Washington State Opinion

Sunday, 21 March 2010, Who Voted Supporting Health Care Reform

A Reminder from Washington DC

The message from Washington DC we should never forget as the driver for health care reform change:

But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of the controversy. . . .¹

Let’s Continue to Check Votes, Jobs, Spending, & Revenues

So not to forget where were at and where we are headed with ‘Taxpayers’ debt spending; it follows, review weekly:

• Project Vote Smart, (and votes continue supporting what? Well, let’s take a look right here), and OnTheIssues.com;
• U.S. Debt Clock;
• How Congress Spends Your Money;
• U.S. Dept of Treasury, FMS, Current Issue, Monthly Treasury Statement Publication; and
• U.S. Dept of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, (Jobs? Let’s not forget!).

Washington State Legislators

The Washington State legislators voted like this:

Democrats -- Baird, Y; Dicks, Y; Inslee, Y; Larsen, Y; McDermott, Y; Smith, Y.

Republicans -- Hastings, N; McMorris Rodgers, N; Reichert, N.

And some Democrats added news release comments supporting their vote

Sen. Patty Murray

brushed aside criticism of the national health-reform bill . . , saying it’s not perfect but that voters like it better once they learn its details²

Rep. Brian Baird

Voting Yes, 3rd District Democrat

At the end of the day, this will be much better for the American people than what we have now. … On fiscal grounds this is sound, on humanitarian grounds it’s sound. I have been in the room when people died who didn’t have health insurance.

Rep. Norm Dicks

Voting Yes, 6th District Democrat

This is a major reform and something that should have been done a long time ago. If we didn’t do it, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security would be threatened.

Rep. Adam Smith

Voting Yes, 9th District Democrat

This bill will cover an estimated 30 million additional Americans and save more than $1 trillion in the long term. These are huge steps forward in the reform process.

The voting record House Roll Call³

The 219-212 roll call Sunday by which the House passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

A “yes” vote is a vote to pass the bill.

Voting yes were 219 Democrats and 0 Republicans.

Voting no were 34 Democrats and 178 Republicans.

There are 4 vacancies in the 435-member House.

ALABAMA

Democrats — Bright, N; Davis, N.

Republicans — Aderholt, N; Bachus, N; Bonner, N; Griffith, N; Rogers, N.

ALASKA

Republicans — Young, N.

ARIZONA

Democrats — Giffords, Y; Grijalva, Y; Kirkpatrick, Y; Mitchell, Y; Pastor, Y.

Republicans — Flake, N; Franks, N; Shadegg, N.

ARKANSAS

Democrats — Berry, N; Ross, N; Snyder, Y.

Republicans — Boozman, N.

CALIFORNIA

Democrats — Baca, Y; Becerra, Y; Berman, Y; Capps, Y; Cardoza, Y; Chu, Y; Costa, Y; Davis, Y; Eshoo, Y; Farr, Y; Filner, Y; Garamendi, Y; Harman, Y; Honda, Y; Lee, Y; Lofgren, Zoe, Y; Matsui, Y; McNerney, Y; Miller, George, Y; Napolitano, Y; Pelosi, Y; Richardson, Y; Roybal-Allard, Y; Sanchez, Linda T., Y; Sanchez, Loretta, Y; Schiff, Y; Sherman, Y; Speier, Y; Stark, Y; Thompson, Y; Waters, Y; Watson, Y; Waxman, Y; Woolsey, Y.

Republicans — Bilbray, N; Bono Mack, N; Calvert, N; Campbell, N; Dreier, N; Gallegly, N; Herger, N; Hunter, N; Issa, N; Lewis, N; Lungren, Daniel E., N; McCarthy, N; McClintock, N; McKeon, N; Miller, Gary, N; Nunes, N; Radanovich, N; Rohrabacher, N; Royce, N.

COLORADO

Democrats — DeGette, Y; Markey, Y; Perlmutter, Y; Polis, Y; Salazar, Y.

Republicans — Coffman, N; Lamborn, N.

CONNECTICUT

Democrats — Courtney, Y; DeLauro, Y; Himes, Y; Larson, Y; Murphy, Y.

DELAWARE

Republicans — Castle, N.

FLORIDA

Democrats — Boyd, Y; Brown, Corrine, Y; Castor, Y; Grayson, Y; Hastings, Y; Klein, Y; Kosmas, Y; Meek, Y; Wasserman Schultz, Y.

Republicans — Bilirakis, N; Brown-Waite, Ginny, N; Buchanan, N; Crenshaw, N; Diaz-Balart, L., N; Diaz-Balart, M., N; Mack, N; Mica, N; Miller, N; Posey, N; Putnam, N; Rooney, N; Ros-Lehtinen, N; Stearns, N; Young, N.

GEORGIA

Democrats — Barrow, N; Bishop, Y; Johnson, Y; Lewis, Y; Marshall, N; Scott, Y.

Republicans — Broun, N; Deal, N; Gingrey, N; Kingston, N; Linder, N; Price, N; Westmoreland, N.

HAWAII

Democrats — Hirono, Y.

IDAHO

Democrats — Minnick, N.

Republicans — Simpson, N.

ILLINOIS

Democrats — Bean, Y; Costello, Y; Davis, Y; Foster, Y; Gutierrez, Y; Halvorson, Y; Hare, Y; Jackson, Y; Lipinski, N; Quigley, Y; Rush, Y; Schakowsky, Y.

Republicans — Biggert, N; Johnson, N; Kirk, N; Manzullo, N; Roskam, N; Schock, N; Shimkus, N.

INDIANA

Democrats — Carson, Y; Donnelly, Y; Ellsworth, Y; Hill, Y; Visclosky, Y.

Republicans — Burton, N; Buyer, N; Pence, N; Souder, N.

IOWA

Democrats — Boswell, Y; Braley, Y; Loebsack, Y.

Republicans — King, N; Latham, N.

KANSAS

Democrats — Moore, Y.

Republicans — Jenkins, N; Moran, N; Tiahrt, N.

KENTUCKY

Democrats — Chandler, N; Yarmuth, Y.

Republicans — Davis, N; Guthrie, N; Rogers, N; Whitfield, N.

LOUISIANA

Democrats — Melancon, N.

Republicans — Alexander, N; Boustany, N; Cao, N; Cassidy, N; Fleming, N; Scalise, N.

MAINE

Democrats — Michaud, Y; Pingree, Y.

MARYLAND

Democrats — Cummings, Y; Edwards, Y; Hoyer, Y; Kratovil, N; Ruppersberger, Y; Sarbanes, Y; Van Hollen, Y.

Republicans — Bartlett, N.

MASSACHUSETTS

Democrats — Capuano, Y; Delahunt, Y; Frank, Y; Lynch, N; Markey, Y; McGovern, Y; Neal, Y; Olver, Y; Tierney, Y; Tsongas, Y.

MICHIGAN

Democrats — Conyers, Y; Dingell, Y; Kildee, Y; Kilpatrick, Y; Levin, Y; Peters, Y; Schauer, Y; Stupak, Y.

Republicans — Camp, N; Ehlers, N; Hoekstra, N; McCotter, N; Miller, N; Rogers, N; Upton, N.

MINNESOTA

Democrats — Ellison, Y; McCollum, Y; Oberstar, Y; Peterson, N; Walz, Y.

Republicans — Bachmann, N; Kline, N; Paulsen, N.

MISSISSIPPI

Democrats — Childers, N; Taylor, N; Thompson, Y.

Republicans — Harper, N.

MISSOURI

Democrats — Carnahan, Y; Clay, Y; Cleaver, Y; Skelton, N.

Republicans — Akin, N; Blunt, N; Emerson, N; Graves, N; Luetkemeyer, N.

MONTANA

Republicans — Rehberg, N.

NEBRASKA

Republicans — Fortenberry, N; Smith, N; Terry, N.

NEVADA

Democrats — Berkley, Y; Titus, Y.

Republicans — Heller, N.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Democrats — Hodes, Y; Shea-Porter, Y.

NEW JERSEY

Democrats — Adler, N; Andrews, Y; Holt, Y; Pallone, Y; Pascrell, Y; Payne, Y; Rothman, Y; Sires, Y.

Republicans — Frelinghuysen, N; Garrett, N; Lance, N; LoBiondo, N; Smith, N.

NEW MEXICO

Democrats — Heinrich, Y; Lujan, Y; Teague, N.

NEW YORK

Democrats — Ackerman, Y; Arcuri, N; Bishop, Y; Clarke, Y; Crowley, Y; Engel, Y; Hall, Y; Higgins, Y; Hinchey, Y; Israel, Y; Lowey, Y; Maffei, Y; Maloney, Y; McCarthy, Y; McMahon, N; Meeks, Y; Murphy, Y; Nadler, Y; Owens, Y; Rangel, Y; Serrano, Y; Slaughter, Y; Tonko, Y; Towns, Y; Velazquez, Y; Weiner, Y.

Republicans — King, N; Lee, N.

NORTH CAROLINA

Democrats — Butterfield, Y; Etheridge, Y; Kissell, N; McIntyre, N; Miller, Y; Price, Y; Shuler, N; Watt, Y.

Republicans — Coble, N; Foxx, N; Jones, N; McHenry, N; Myrick, N.

NORTH DAKOTA

Democrats — Pomeroy, Y.

OHIO

Democrats — Boccieri, Y; Driehaus, Y; Fudge, Y; Kaptur, Y; Kilroy, Y; Kucinich, Y; Ryan, Y; Space, N; Sutton, Y; Wilson, Y.

Republicans — Austria, N; Boehner, N; Jordan, N; LaTourette, N; Latta, N; Schmidt, N; Tiberi, N; Turner, N.

OKLAHOMA

Democrats — Boren, N.

Republicans — Cole, N; Fallin, N; Lucas, N; Sullivan, N.

OREGON

Democrats — Blumenauer, Y; DeFazio, Y; Schrader, Y; Wu, Y.

Republicans — Walden, N.

PENNSYLVANIA

Democrats — Altmire, N; Brady, Y; Carney, Y; Dahlkemper, Y; Doyle, Y; Fattah, Y; Holden, N; Kanjorski, Y; Murphy, Patrick, Y; Schwartz, Y; Sestak, Y.

Republicans — Dent, N; Gerlach, N; Murphy, Tim, N; Pitts, N; Platts, N; Shuster, N; Thompson, N.

RHODE ISLAND

Democrats — Kennedy, Y; Langevin, Y.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Democrats — Clyburn, Y; Spratt, Y.

Republicans — Barrett, N; Brown, N; Inglis, N; Wilson, N.

SOUTH DAKOTA

Democrats — Herseth Sandlin, N.

TENNESSEE

Democrats — Cohen, Y; Cooper, Y; Davis, N; Gordon, Y; Tanner, N.

Republicans — Blackburn, N; Duncan, N; Roe, N; Wamp, N.

TEXAS

Democrats — Cuellar, Y; Doggett, Y; Edwards, N; Gonzalez, Y; Green, Al, Y; Green, Gene, Y; Hinojosa, Y; Jackson Lee, Y; Johnson, E. B., Y; Ortiz, Y; Reyes, Y; Rodriguez, Y.

Republicans — Barton, N; Brady, N; Burgess, N; Carter, N; Conaway, N; Culberson, N; Gohmert, N; Granger, N; Hall, N; Hensarling, N; Johnson, Sam, N; Marchant, N; McCaul, N; Neugebauer, N; Olson, N; Paul, N; Poe, N; Sessions, N; Smith, N; Thornberry, N.

UTAH

Democrats — Matheson, N.

Republicans — Bishop, N; Chaffetz, N.

VERMONT

Democrats — Welch, Y.

VIRGINIA

Democrats — Boucher, N; Connolly, Y; Moran, Y; Nye, N; Perriello, Y; Scott, Y.

Republicans — Cantor, N; Forbes, N; Goodlatte, N; Wittman, N; Wolf, N.

WASHINGTON

Democrats — Baird, Y; Dicks, Y; Inslee, Y; Larsen, Y; McDermott, Y; Smith, Y.

Republicans — Hastings, N; McMorris Rodgers, N; Reichert, N.

WEST VIRGINIA

Democrats — Mollohan, Y; Rahall, Y.

Republicans — Capito, N.

WISCONSIN

Democrats — Baldwin, Y; Kagen, Y; Kind, Y; Moore, Y; Obey, Y.

Republicans — Petri, N; Ryan, N; Sensenbrenner, N.

WYOMING

Republicans — Lummis, N.

Advanced Bill Summary & Status Search for the 111th Congress

Will I add my name. No!

John –

President Barack Obama will soon sign comprehensive health care reform into law. A century-long fight will finally be won.

As the President wrote last night, it was you who made this improbable victory possible. It was volunteers knocking on doors, talking to neighbors, and proving once again that Americans, standing together, can change the course of a nation.

Supporters like us now have a chance to add our names as “Co-signers” of this historic legislation — adding our names next to President Obama’s to show our pride in helping to bring about this great achievement.

Organizing for America will establish a permanent archive with all the signatures, so that generations to come will have a record of those who stood together in this moment and won this fight for our future. And I will personally present all the names we collect to the President. Will you add your name?

This is the most significant domestic achievement in decades. And this movement of Americans, committed to improving their country, made it possible.

We turned out for that first cold morning in Springfield, for the canvasses in New Hampshire, for the phone banks in Iowa. We kept fighting when no one gave us a chance and the cynics told us we were clinging to a false hope.

We organized for health reform. We spread the facts on doorsteps, in town halls, and through millions of conversations. Your voice rang through the halls of Congress and filled the pages of local newspapers.

It took many months and tremendous resolve, but we built a national network of support so strong that when the deceptive attack ads choked the airwaves and the pundits declared our effort defeated — we had what it took to fight our way back.

And we won: the toughest insurance regulations in history, affordable coverage for 32 million without it, relief from skyrocketing costs for small business owners and from rising deficits for our children.

That’s the story of how change really happens. And now, hundreds of millions will have better lives because of it.

It’s rare to be part of something so meaningful that will help change the course of history. But you are.

Please consider adding your name as co-signer today to commemorate your efforts:

http://my.barackobama.com/Cosign

Thank you,

David Plouffe

See, E-mail sent from David Plouffe to John E Sherman, Mon, 22 Mar 2010 16:52:08 -0400 (13:52 PDT), Subject: Will you add your name?.

President Obama sent me a summary about the his health care reform

John –

For the first time in our nation’s history, Congress has passed comprehensive health care reform. America waited a hundred years and fought for decades to reach this moment. Tonight, thanks to you, we are finally here.

Consider the staggering scope of what you have just accomplished:

Because of you, every American will finally be guaranteed high quality, affordable health care coverage.

Every American will be covered under the toughest patient protections in history. Arbitrary premium hikes, insurance cancellations, and discrimination against pre-existing conditions will now be gone forever.

And we’ll finally start reducing the cost of care — creating millions of jobs, preventing families and businesses from plunging into bankruptcy, and removing over a trillion dollars of debt from the backs of our children.

But the victory that matters most tonight goes beyond the laws and far past the numbers.

It is the peace of mind enjoyed by every American, no longer one injury or illness away from catastrophe.

It is the workers and entrepreneurs who are now freed to pursue their slice of the American dream without fear of losing coverage or facing a crippling bill.

And it is the immeasurable joy of families in every part of this great nation, living happier, healthier lives together because they can finally receive the vital care they need.

This is what change looks like.

My gratitude tonight is profound. I am thankful for those in past generations whose heroic efforts brought this great goal within reach for our times. I am thankful for the members of Congress whose months of effort and brave votes made it possible to take this final step. But most of all, I am thankful for you.

This day is not the end of this journey. Much hard work remains, and we have a solemn responsibility to do it right. But we can face that work together with the confidence of those who have moved mountains.

Our journey began three years ago, driven by a shared belief that fundamental change is indeed still possible. We have worked hard together every day since to deliver on that belief.

We have shared moments of tremendous hope, and we’ve faced setbacks and doubt. We have all been forced to ask if our politics had simply become too polarized and too short-sighted to meet the pressing challenges of our time. This struggle became a test of whether the American people could still rally together when the cause was right — and actually create the change we believe in.

Tonight, thanks to your mighty efforts, the answer is indisputable: Yes we can.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

See, E-mail from President Barack Obama sent to John E Sherman, Sun, 21 Mar 2010 23:37:40 -0400 (20:37 PDT), Subject: We made history (and I am here to memorialize this historical writing sent to me).

Our local newspaper editorial have provided a simple summary overview of health care reform

See, Editorial, A flawed health bill, but better than none, The News Tribune (Tacoma), 21 Mar. 2010, available at
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/03/21/1117965/a-flawed-health-bill-but-better.html (last visited 21 Mar. 2010).

This News Tribune editorial article will become history after today; it follows, we can re-read this article in the future years—just to see what the historical prediction once-was for health care reform support and why as the U.S. Debt Clock keeps-on rolling-along with increasing new ‘Taxpayers’ debt.

My comment to this newspaper article was

This health bill will-not constrain spending in the long run; in other words, just like the insurance industry supported (by paying for health care with somebody else’s money) so comes the government to step into those same insurance industry shoes of paying money nobody else could afford to pay to maintain the high cost of health care delivery and prescription medications.

The similarity between government and insurance is quite similar—both need somebody else’s money to spend to exist tomorrow.

Well TNT Editorial writers, let’s see if your writing this same positive health care government take-over story a couple of years from today?

So, we will all see what ‘history’ writes tomorrow about today and its health care reform—good; bad; worst; or ‘Taxpayers’ broke and bankrupt and absent affordable health care continues just un-affordable but with more government taxes, fees, and fines. We will all know more later, for sure.

Just-like our local newspaper, I also have my opinion(s) about health care—for example:

What is this future benefit for State of Washington; for example, MEDICAID DSH REDUCTIONS—for example, H.R. 4872, at 77, SEC. 1704. REDUCTION IN MEDICAID DSH (4)(b)(1):

IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall reduce Medicaid DSH so as to reduce total Federal payments to all States for such purpose by $1,500,000,000 in fiscal year 2017, $2,500,000,000 in fiscal year 2018, and $6,000,000,000 in fiscal year 2019.

Are these some of the things the State of Washington is looking forward toward not getting tomorrow; it follows, saving the federal government health care money? Who pays if the federal government does not?

But, just thinking, if Japan is still our largest holder of debt; it follows, as Blaine Harden, Washington Post Foreign Service, Health Care in Japan: Low-Cost, for Now, The Washington Post, 7 Sept 2009, (“There are shortages of obstetricians, anesthesiologists and emergency room specialists because of relatively low pay, long hours and high stress at many hospitals . . .”) available at

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/06/AR2009090601630.html

Maybe we will have the health care Japan style here soon, just another government health care plan but a bit different than here.

As we, United State, once controlled debt collection for other countries payback it is close to the time to have our U.S. debt payback also controlled by some other foreign debt collector country.

If the Democrats have made a health care reform mistake; as a result, and China takes over management of its debt investments here in U.S. let’s take a look at how the China health care system might work here also as described by Steven Mufson, Washington Post Foreign Service, In China, too, a health-care system in disarray, The Washington Post, 29 Oct 2009, (“As U.S. lawmakers engage . . . reform, Chinese authorities, too, are attempting to fix their system. Over the past five years, the government has tried to provide coverage to more of its 1.4 billion people. But even people covered by a minimal health insurance program are often left with big hospital bills and must pay for most outpatient services and medication. More than 300 million people do not have any health insurance.”) available at

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/28/AR2009102805081.html

This health bill will-not constrain spending in the long run; in other words, just like the insurance industry supported (by paying for health care with somebody else’s money) so comes the government to step into those same insurance industry shoes of paying money nobody else could afford to pay to maintain the high cost of health care delivery and prescription medications.

The similarity between government and insurance is quite similar—both need somebody else’s money to spend to exist tomorrow.

Well TNT Editorial writers, let’s see if your writing this same positive health care government take-over story a couple of years from today?

Reminiscing health care past issues; certainly, the concerns about health care delivery costs during year 1999 have many similarities to health care concerns of today—for example Dwith McNeill, Policy Forum, Rethinking Employer-Sponsored Health Care, Sept./Oct. 1999, CATO Policy Report, Vol.XXXI,No.5, available at

http://www.cato.org/pubs/policy_report/v21n5/healthcare.html

(“Americans have relied on employers for their health insurance coverage for 50 years, but that relationship may be coming to an end. Employers are unhappy . . . . Employees are unhappy . . . . Physicians are unhappy . . . . Politicians are unhappy that the numbers of uninsured are growing . . . . How can the system be reformed to be more responsive and more cost-effective?”)

Nobody can blame the health insurance industry anymore after this reform! It’s government controlled.

Maybe the reason for now needing all workers identification card is to catch those people not filing IRS tax forms; for example the new H.R.3590 (HR 3590 EAS/PP) at 341 says:

(c) NOTIFICATION OF NONENROLLMENT.—Not later than June 30 of each year, the Secretary of the Treasury, acting through the Internal Revenue Service and in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall send a notification to each individual who files an individual income tax return and who is not enrolled in minimum essential coverage (as defined in section 5000A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986). Such notification shall contain information on the services available through the Exchange operating in the State in which such individual resides.

With this new health care reform bill it’s necessary to track you—for necessary health care delivery reporting. Now if you don’t earn sufficient income to IRS file the new worker identification card will help.

Looking toward the positive of this specific health care reform legislation once approved and rule of law with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) enforcement doing the ‘police actions’ necessary to make sure anybody with any wage money is paying for their approved health care plan or paying the fine because they choose not to purchase health insurance. The employed job holder has a choice; it follows, the IRS constant news about health care reporting, your required IRS health care report mandated filing; as a result, will help us all remember every day and every future elections who is taking our earned money.

And, like other ‘green jobs’ we can all watch government jobs created for this new government management of health care oversight, medical decisions necessary panels, and law enforcement related to required health care payments just like ‘Taxpayers’ taxes are required. This is another jobs bill for government growth tomorrow. Jobs good: ‘Taxpayers’ debt says so.

This health care reform is not going to make access to affordable health care more affordable, but government will continue providing the missing and unsustainable financial support to the ‘industry of health care’; as a result, this money infusion keeps the cost of health care services delivery high tomorrow—for example, just thinking, absent government and insurance continued support for high-cost of health care delivery today, health care services delivery end-users cost competitive; it follows, only you know what your willing to pay for the health care service benefit you will receive from your money spent.

References

Tags: elections, health care, voting

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