Statement on health care vote
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette (R-OH) today voted for repeal of
the new health care law with hopes that it will spur bipartisan
cooperation to replace provisions and improve the law.
The bill passed by a vote of 245 to 189, but LaTourette said its
fate in the Senate is uncertain. He said he continues to
support parts of the law, some with solid bipartisan backing.
"We should keep the good, like pre-existing conditions and
letting kids stay on parents' plans, and get rid of 1,900 pages
that raise taxes, impose higher costs and cost jobs," LaTourette
said.
LaTourette lamented that the bill was written behind closed
doors and fears many will lose their employer-provided plans.
He said the bill ballooned from an effort to help the uninsured
into a massive and complicated effort that will harm seniors and
small businesses and place additional budgetary stress on
states.
He said he's troubled some don't believe the law can be
improved. One of the main provisions - the mandate that
people get insurance from state exchanges - doesn't happen until
2014. It is currently mired in lawsuits questioning its
constitutionality, and the IRS has indicated it might need $5 to
$10 billion to implement this and three other health care
provisions in the law.
LaTourette also questioned some priorities in the new law.
"The law is far from perfect when nutritional labeling of donuts
is imminent, but it will take a decade to close the donut hole for
seniors with high drug costs. We can and should do better."