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Edwards To Vote “No’ On Senate Health Care Bill
Central Texas Congressman Chet Edwards said Monday he will vote against the Senate health care reform bill and against using the reconciliation process to pass the measure.
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63 Comments 
WASHINGTON (March 15, 2010)—Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, said Monday he will vote “no” on the U.S. Senate’s health care bill just as he did when the House voted on its version of the sweeping reform bill last year.
“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 Monday.
Edwards said he would also vote in the Budget Committee against using the reconciliation process to pass the Senate bill, and when the committee voted late Monday afternoon, Edwards and Rep. Allen Boyd, D-Fla., broke ranks with Democrats to join 14 Republicans in voting against advancing the measure.
The committee’s 21-16 vote sends the legislation to the House Rules Committee, which is expected to meet Thursday to draft language for the reconciliation bill, crafting a package of fixes to the $875 billion Senate bill.
“Over the past year, I have listened to thousands of people all across our district on the issue of health care reform,” he said, “(and) what I have heard is that people generally like the quality of their present health care and don’t want big government or big insurance companies to stand between them and their doctors.
“They also believe we must do something about ever higher health care costs that are hurting families and small businesses,” he said.
“I agree and that is why I had hoped Congress would develop a bipartisan health care reform plan I could support. However, I will not vote for any health care reform bill, unless I believe it is the right thing to do,” he said.
Edwards said he was disappointed that neither the House nor the Senate bill includes his proposal for a fiscal trigger that would automatically reduce the costs of the bill if projections prove to be wrong.
“No one can predict with absolute certainty the new costs and cost savings of such a massive reform bill over 10 to 20 years,” Edwards said.
The two Republicans who hope to challenge Edwards in November said Monday they agree with his vote, but said they think he should to more to try to defeat the bill.
Waco businessman Rob Curnock said, “I believe our elected representatives should use every tool at their disposal to stand up against this bill.
“A subcommittee chair has access and influence, and that should be brought to bear to make sure this bill does not pass,” he said.
Bill Flores of Bryan said, “Chet Edwards should be using every ounce of his energy to encourage other Democrats to vote against this bill, delivering floor speeches, holding press conferences – it is time for him to do anything within his power to stop this bill.”
Flores and Curnock are in a runoff after emerging as the top two vote getters in the March 2 GOP primary.
Latest Comments
I agree with Edwards view. Though the bill is going to be a boon for those with pre medial conditions like bronchitis or COPD, the insurance on health should be a matter that needs to be decided by the individual. It should never be forced upon anyone! It is pathetic that such options are being forced for no reasons!
i guess i was on Government rolls once in my life when in 1965 i got a letter from my Friends and Nighbors Said GREETINGS we are going to support you for the next two yearsand was send to a resort in Southeast Asia called VIETNAM and your friends and nighbors headed for Canada, i have never got any assistance of any kind from the government or anyone, not all people want these services but when you loss your job and have a wife and kids to support you need help from someone its a shame that kids in the US can't even see a doctor, by the way how many years have you served your country or do you just sit around crying I SERVED MY COUNTRY FOR OVER 20 YEARS and was proud to do so
Thank you George for bring that up, you're correct. I might add that that is what the Constitution Of these United States specifically instructs the presidency and congress to do. Raise an army and equip it to defend this country from those that would cause it harm from within and from abroad. George you seem to be willing to gladly give away all that a great many wonderful patriots have shed blood and given their lives to defend... our freedom. The Constitution and the Bill of Rights are wonderful instruments of instruction. Read them, learn them, and then live them. In them you will find no mention of Health care for all, or Socialized Security, Medi-care, Food stamps, or even government bailouts to large corporations. You will find freedom of speech, of religion, and the rights of the government to protect this country, NOT to be the sole provider of everything for everyone . We would be wise to invest in ourselves, self-respect, to be accountable for our actions and also inaction.
