Traverse City Record-Eagle

Archive: Monday

March 22, 2010

Reaction to passage of health care bill

Quotes reacting to the U.S. House passage of health care legislation on Sunday:

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"The health insurance reform package combines the best ideas from all sides of the debate, capping a year-long transparent legislative effort. It delivers on President Obamas key goals for health reform of slowing the growth of health costs, creating competition in the health insurance marketplace, and keeping insurers honest. It will protect peoples choices of doctors and health plans, and guarantee that every American can access quality, stable, and affordable health insurance coverage. It will rein-in the worst insurance company abuses, such as discrimination based on pre-existing conditions, policy rescissions when patients are in the middle of treatment, or insurance rate hikes without justification." -U.S. Rep. Sander Levin, D-Royal Oak

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"Although this legislation is not perfect and does not do everything I believe is necessary to reform our health insurance industry, it is a tremendous step forward for northern Michigan residents and for our nation. Skyrocketing health care costs are unsustainable for our families, our seniors, our businesses or our government. This legislation will protect consumers from unconscionable industry practices while helping to lower costs and make the health insurance industry more competitive." -U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Menominee

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"The passage of health care reform is historic for Michigan. After decades of failed attempts, this legislation will give Michigan families and businesses more control over their own health care, will give them the security and stability that come with health care coverage, and will reduce overall health care costs. No state has needed reform more than Michigan, and I applaud and thank the members of our congressional delegation who voted for this legislation." -Gov. Jennifer Granholm, D-Michigan

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"Michiganders have plenty of reason to be disappointed today, as Michigan Democrats chose to continue siding with the liberal leaders in Washington and support this government takeover of health care. Reps. Schauer and Peters should be ashamed to have been part of this partisan trickery and underhanded tactics used to ram this bill through Congress. And even more so, they should be ashamed to have supported a bill that will force already struggling Michiganders to face a future of higher taxes, increased premiums and Medicare cuts." -Republican National Committee Chairman Michael

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"There is dirty deal after dirty deal after dirty deal in the bill this House will vote on. It is a disgrace." -U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Howell

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"The House health care bill is bad social policy, bad public policy and bad fiscal policy. Its an irresponsible bill on all three points, perhaps most notably that it permits taxpayer-funded abortions, cuts into Medicare and will bankrupt future generations." -U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland

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"The health care bill brought forth by Democrats will raise taxes on Americans by over $569 billion, create harsh penalties for businesses that cannot afford health care for employees, and does not prohibit federal funds from going toward abortion." -U.S. Rep. Vern Ehlers, R-Grand Rapids

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"This bill is chock full of hundreds of millions of dollars in unseemly backroom deals like the Louisiana Purchase, Cornhusker Kickback and Florida Gator Aid that bought off Senate votes and there is no guarantee they will be stripped out at the end of the day. Folks are scared, and this trillion dollar health overhaul spends money we simply do not have."

-U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph

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"Today, I was proud to stand with my constituents and the American people to oppose this terribly flawed bill. This bill is heading our country in the wrong direction. From the $500 billion cut in Medicare, to the taxes on the job creation sector, to veterans who will have their benefits cut, and to the unconstitutional mandates placed on average citizens. On an issue of this importance the American people deserved the best, but instead got Washington at its worst."

-U.S. Rep. Candice Miller, R-Harrison Township

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"Despite a massive misinformation campaign paid for by the health insurance industry, the simple fact is that our health care system is broken. Doing nothing would allow the health insurance companies to keep racking up massive profits at the expense of Michigan families, seniors and businesses, and ultimately stifle our economic turnaround."

- U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek

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