Local News: Congressman Edwards to Vote Against Health Care Reform

Sphere: Related Content Chet Edwards Says He Will Vote Against Senate's Health Care Bill
By Michael W. Shapiro Tribune-Herald staff writer

From the Waco Tribune-Herald


Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, announced Monday he will vote against the Senate’s version of health care reform legislation when it comes up for a vote in the U.S. House, expected later this week.

Edwards voted against the House’s version of health care legislation in November, and some local Democrats and labor groups had expressed hope he would be more amenable to the less expensive and less expansive Senate version.

But Edwards made it clear in a conference call with reporters that his vote would not change. Edwards also said he would vote against a package of changes to the Senate bill that Democrats are hoping to pass through a process called budget reconciliation.

Chet Edwards said he was "especially disappointed" the legislation did not include a proposal he backed that would have reduced the scale of the program if costs ran high.
“I voted ‘no’ on the House health care reform bill, and I will be a ‘no’ vote on the Senate health care reform bill,” Edwards said. “At a time of massive federal deficits, I believe these bills could make those deficits worse.”

More specifically, Edwards said he was “especially disappointed” the legislation did not include a proposal he backed that would have reduced the scale of the program if costs ran high.

“No one can predict with absolute certainty the new cost and cost savings of such a massive reform bill over 10 to 20 years,” Edwards said. “That is why I believed it was important to include a trigger to automatically reduce the cost of the bill if the projections turned out to be wrong, particularly since our nation is facing such serious federal deficits.”

According to the Congressional Budget Office’s latest cost estimate of the Senate bill, the projected price tag for the Senate bill is $875 billion during 10 years.

The estimate anticipates a reduction in future deficits of $118 billion because of new taxes and cost-cutting in the bill.

By Monday afternoon, the CBO had not issued an estimate of the costs of the various changes Democratic leaders also are hoping to pass along with the bill.

Reform Still Needed

Edwards reiterated his concerns about the rising cost of health insurance and the ability of insurers to deny or charge pricey premiums for people with pre-existing medical conditions, saying most people want to see something done to change the system.

He also said that, with House Democratic leaders and the Obama administration still trying to round up enough votes, there’s a chance the health care bill won’t pass the House. That would allow lawmakers to further revise a health care bill.

“If we defeat the Senate bill, that’s when I think we take a deep breath, try to look for common ground (and) find a way to put together a bill the people would support,” Edwards said. “I still hold out hope we can pass a bill that would unite the American people and not divide us.”

Opponents Weigh In

Edwards’ decision could take a potent campaign season issue off the table for his potential Republican general election opponents, Rob Curnock and Bill Flores, who are competing in a primary runoff election.

Both candidates oppose health care reform efforts. In statements Monday, both campaigns seemed to support Edwards’ stance but urged him to go further.

Flores’ release suggested Edwards use “every ounce of energy to encourage other Democrats to vote against this bill.”

Curnock’s statement called on the congressman to use his “access and influence” as a high-ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee “to make sure this bill does not pass.”

Edwards responded, “I intend to continue using my votes and voice to oppose the House and Senate health care bills.”

Edwards, who sits on the House Budget Committee, cast a procedural vote against the reconciliation bill Monday. The bill was passed out of committee by a 21-16 margin.

Leaders of the Waco Tea Party were planning Monday to deliver a thank-you card to Edwards today for coming out against the legislation. The card will include pleas for Edwards to vote certain ways on several anticipated procedural votes.

Leaders from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Texas Association of Business and the National Federation of Independent Business were moving ahead with a press conference at 10 a.m. today at the Waco Hilton to discuss what a statement calls “the devastating impact” of the legislation on employers.

Published on Tuesday, March 16, 2010