Congress Approves Massive Government Takeover of Health Care
- Nov 10, 2009 -
Shortly after 11:00 p.m. on Saturday night, Nov. 7, the House of Representatives passed the “Affordable Healthcare for America Act” (H.R. 3962), a 2,000-page overhaul of the nation’s health care system, affecting one-sixth of the U.S. economy and every single American citizen. The affirmative vote was razor thin, 220-215. This means the bill passed by a mere three votes!
The bright spot in the disastrous vote was the successful effort to prevent federal funding of abortion in health care plans. Thanks to the determined efforts of Joseph Pitts (R-PA) and Bart Stupak (D-MI), the House voted 240-194 to restrict federal funding of abortion in health care plans. We all can be grateful for this tremendous victory! Sixty-four Democrats joined 176 Republicans in this defeat of the pro-abortion agenda. You can see how your Congressman voted on the Pitts-Stupak amendment here and on final passage of the bill here.
The abortion restriction amendment was a tremendous and crucially important success. It addressed one of the major problems with this bill. Other problems remain, however. Two hundred and twenty congressmen approved the creation of a government-run health insurance plan that will compete against private health care plans. They voted for the formation of numerous boards, committees, and czars to oversee the nation’s health care system, including a board that will determine which medical procedures and medicines can be provided through all of the nation’s health care plans. They also voted to mandate coverage for every person, enforced by fines and threats of jail for those who refuse to comply. The full number of problems with this health care bill are too numerous to list.
Essentially, liberals got 95% of what they sought in their health care reform bonanza. If their bill or anything like it is signed into law, the American people can be certain that higher taxes, rationed care, and poorer service lie in their future medical care.
The battle now moves to the Senate, where it will be very difficult to get the needed 60 votes to pass a radical restructuring of our nation’s health care. While most Republicans and some Democrats will insist on abortion restriction language, passage of a bill in the Senate will require more than this. Some pivotal senators appear more concerned about costs and impacts on the quality of health care for all Americans, especially seniors. These are problems associated with the very nature of the Senate Democratic leadership’s health care reform proposals, not easily, if at all, fixed with an amendment.
Nevertheless, the lesson from Saturday’s vote is that anything can happen in Washington, DC. The only way to be certain that our nation is not sent down a disastrous health care path is to stay in touch with our senators and to insist that they not allow a government takeover of health care. If you would like to see what the ERLC considers to be appropriate principles that should guide health care reform, you can find our document “Fifteen Principles for Successful Health Care Reform” at www.erlc.com. After you read it, you may want to share your concerns about health care reform with your senators.
Barrett Duke is vice president for public policy and research of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.
Further Learning
Learn more about: Family, Living, Health, Citizenship, Legislation,