Minnesotans react to passage of health care reform

Photo: WDCpix

Many politicians and special interest groups responded to the passing of health care reform in Congress Sunday night. Reactions fell along party and ideological lines.

Rep. Keith Ellison:

“For me, this legislation represents progress toward universal health care for all Americans,” Ellison stated. “Every landmark piece of legislation had a beginning. Women’s rights did not end with the 19st Amendment; Civil Rights did not end with the signing of the 1965 Voting Rights Act; Social Security enacted in 1935, and Medicare in 1965, did not begin as we know them today. So too is it with this health care reform bill. It is a beginning – and an important one,” Ellison said

Rep. James Oberstar:

“Madam Speaker, today the House of Representatives crosses an historic threshold in the evolution of social justice, quality of life, equity of health service delivery, and a worthy legacy for our children, with passage of comprehensive health care reform legislation..

“Our nation enjoys the best, but the most expensive health care in the world. The comprehensive health care legislation under consideration will preserve what works best in our health care system and make that system more efficient and affordable.”

Rep. Michele Bachmann:

“This past year, the President and Democratic leaders in Congress gathered in back rooms away from the American people and twisted arms to get just enough votes through deals and handouts to pass their legislation. They broke promises of open debate and transparency, and instead of working with Republicans and implementing common sense reforms that wouldn’t break the bank, they went it alone and spent more money we just don’t have.

“Future generations will pay the price for our government’s arrogance and recklessness, and the American people won’t ever forget the irresponsible actions of this Administration and Congress. After all, government answers to the people, not the other way around, and the fight for the soul of this nation continues on.”

Rep. Erik Paulsen:

“Today, the House of Representatives narrowly approved a costly, partisan bill the American people have said loud and clear they do not want. My constituents, by a margin of over three-to-one, have said they do not like this plan — and with good reason.

“This bill represents a major expansion of the federal government’s role in health care. It creates new entitlement spending of nearly $1 trillion, slashes over $500 billion from Medicare in order to spend it elsewhere, allows the IRS to impose new fines on Americans who don’t purchase ‘acceptable’ coverage, fails to protect veterans’ care and imposes a new $20 billion tax on life-saving medical technology innovations.

Paulsen also released this video:

Rep. Tim Walz:

“I also voted for this legislation because it is the fiscally responsible thing to do. Since first coming to Congress, I have actively worked to find ways to reduce the skyrocketing, long-term federal debt. Let me be clear: We cannot tackle our debt without addressing the out of control cost of health care and we cannot rebuild a strong, vibrant economy while businesses are strangled financially and forced to choose between cutting salaries or health insurance for their employees. I cannot in good conscience pass on a skyrocketing debt and a broken health care system for our children and our grandchildren to deal with, they deserve better than kicking the can down the road for another day.

Rep. John Kline:

“With these votes, Congress has failed its most fundamental responsibility of representing the American people. Citizens descended on the U.S. Capitol this weekend to implore their elected officials to reject this legislation – yet their voices were ignored. Governors are lining up to challenge the mandates that will be imposed on the citizens of their states – yet their pleas have gone unheard. Republicans and Democrats alike stood up to vote no – yet backroom deals and a thirst for government control won the day.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty offered this short reaction:

“Democrats rejected needed, common sense reforms in favor of an overreaching, extraordinarily expensive, government-centric plan that gives more and more control to an already bloated and bankrupt federal government.”

Twila Brase of the anti-health care reform group Citizens Council on Health Care:

“Today marks the first day of a new revolution for freedom in America. This is historic day, not because of the bill that the U.S. House passed, but because of what will arise out of the American people as a result of passing this unconstitutional bill.

“Today, the U.S. House has voted for a federal government takeover of health care. They have voted to socialize medicine. They have voted to put the federal government in charge of medical decisions and patient care. They have voted to empower government to deny medical care, penalize doctors, raise taxes, enforce penalties, jail citizens, expand deficits, and establish intrusiveness bureaucracies.

Minnesota DFL:

“Today’s vote is a resounding win for the hardworking families struggling with out-of-control health-care costs, and a dramatic step forward for the President as he continues to deliver on his promise to reform our nation’s broken health-insurance system. Thanks to the President and the Democratic leaders in Congress, that broken system has begun a much-needed and long-awaited overhaul, and Americans across the country are one step closer to receiving quality, affordable health care.

“With today’s reforms, middle-class families in Minnesota and across the country will no longer be forced to decide between paying their mortgage or their health-care bills. Americans are no longer at the mercy of insurance companies, worrying about being dropped from their insurance or denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition. The President’s plan will make insurance affordable for hardworking Americans, and will help small businesses during these difficult times. Today’s success is a testament to the Democrats’ reasoned, balanced approach to tackling one of the most difficult public-policy issues of modern times.”

The Republican Party of Minnesota didn’t react to the passage of the health reform bill but instead to Walz’ vote for it:

“Today’s House vote for government run health care is a historic disaster. Tim Walz betrayed Southern Minnesota by voting for a reckless nearly trillion dollar spending bill that increases premiums, raises taxes by $500 billion and cuts Medicare by over $470 billion. In November, Walz will lose his seat for his decision to ram this deeply unpopular and partisan bill down the throats of the American people.”