The Tolbert Report

A new ad from the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) targets Rep. Vic Snyder’s vote on health care. This one takes an interesting twist by quoting what several fellow Democrats have to say about the bill.

“The worst thing you can do in a recession is raise taxes and this bill does just that.” Rep. Dan Boren (D-OK.)

“This is a big price tag in today’s economic climate” Rep. Travis Childers (D-MS.)

“There is two much spending in this bill.” Rep. Chet Edwards (D-TX)

“This bill will not reduce long-term costs.” Rep. Bill Bright (D-AL)

This is an interesting tactic and one that I imagine we will see repeated. In Arkansas, the statement from Rep. Mike Ross (full statement on the jump) following his vote against the bill provides excellent material for any opponent of Rep. Vic Snyder or Rep. Marion Berry.

WASHINGTON – Citing the size and cost of the bill, U.S.  Representative Mike Ross, D-Ark., voted against H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act of 2009, in the House of Representatives on Saturday.  The bill passed 220 to 215.

“I have spent the past few months traveling our Congressional district and listening to you, the people who sent me to be their voice at our nation’s capital.  You overwhelmingly told me that you were opposed to the original 1,000 page House health care reform bill and its $1 trillion price tag.   Now, the new House health care reform bill is over 2,000 pages and cost over $1.2 trillion.  Washington may not have heard you, but I heard you loud and clear, and that’s why I voted against creating this massive new government spending program that we simply can not afford.  While I strongly support efforts to reform our health care system, we can accomplish this without creating a new government-run health insurance program and without spending $1.2 trillion.   
 
“We must stop the out-of-control spending in Washington and begin reducing our skyrocketing national debt.  If we do not, we will begin to suffer from massive inflation costing our already fragile economy even more jobs. We are faced with the worst economic recession since World War II.  This is not the time to force employees to buy health insurance they cannot afford or require struggling small businesses to provide it.  This is not the time to raise federal taxes $730 billion.  And, this is not the time to impose new and costly mandates on our local school districts and city, county and state governments, which would likely require tax increases on working families.  In fact, Governor Beebe has stated that the Medicaid provisions in the House health care reform bill could increase the state budget in Arkansas $205 million by 2015.

“Moreover, this House health care bill does nothing to reduce how much the federal government spends on health care.  The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the Joint Committee on Taxation estimate indicate that H.R. 3962 would actually increase the federal budgetary commitment to health care by about $598 billion over the 2010 – 2019 period.  This past Tuesday, I met with CBO Director Doug Elmendorf and he made clear that the House bill, simply put, does not effectively bring down the growing costs of health care.  Actually, he said, the House bill only perpetuates a system that is ultimately unsustainable over the long term.  

“I am also deeply concerned about this bill’s unintended consequences for our seniors.   With more than $400 billion in cuts to Medicare, it could force many of our rural hospitals to close, providing less access and care for our seniors.  I also voted against the health care reform bill because it allows illegal immigrants to purchase private insurance in the newly created government exchange.  

“I also voted for a strict amendment that prohibits federally funded abortions and does not allow any insurance plans – public or private – in the newly created government exchange to cover elective abortions.  

“While I support providing affordable coverage for the uninsured and cracking down on the health insurance companies, I believe we can accomplish this with much less than a 2,000 page bill costing $1.2 trillion.  No one has worked harder on trying to accomplish health care reform than I have.   I am disappointed that the health care reform bill passed by the House was not a common sense plan and did not reflect Arkansas values.

“During this economic crisis, I believe we should be focused on putting people back to work, not growing the size of the federal government with increased spending, new mandates and higher taxes.”

Tags: 2010 Candidates