Target Dems Toe the Party Line, Vote to Kill Ohio Jobs
FYI, a version of the release below went out to the following districts: John Barrow (GA-12); Bruce Braley (IA-01); Bart Gordon (TN-06); Baron Hill (IN-09); Jim Matheson (UT-02); Jerry McNerney (CA-11); Charlie Melancon (LA-03); Mike Ross (AR-04); Zack Space (OH-18); and Bart Stupak (MI-01).
Zack Space Toes the Party Line, Votes to Kill Ohio Jobs
OH Dem Clears the Way for Government-Run Healthcare
Washington- Rep. Zack Space caved in to his party bosses once again today and cleared the way for a government healthcare takeover that will kill jobs and devastate Ohio businesses. By voting against an amendment in the House Energy and Commerce Committee to strip the so-called ‘public option’ from the Democrats’ healthcare bill, Space took a decidedly anti-jobs stance and gave his seal of approval on a bill that could cost millions of American jobs.
By voting against blocking the Democrats’ healthcare takeover, Space sent a loud and clear signal to Ohio families that he will push his party’s agenda at any cost. Unfortunately for middle-class Ohio families, that means higher unemployment, more bureaucracy, and decreased quality of care.
“Instead of fighting for middle-class Ohio families, Zack Space chose to bow down to Nancy Pelosi and his party bosses by supporting the most devastating part of their government healthcare takeover,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “By clearing the way for government-run healthcare, Zack Space has taken a stance in favor of higher taxes and fewer jobs.”
Background:
Even Space’s fellow Democrats recognize the job-killing consequences of a government healthcare takeover: “The estimated cost of restructuring the $2.5 trillion healthcare system has raised alarms among Republicans and some Democrats, who have argued that the proposed reforms are unaffordable for a country mired in a deep recession. The Blue Dog Democrats complained that the proposed House bill failed to reform payments to doctors, hospitals and insurers and lacked provisions to shield small businesses from excessive costs.” (Kim Dixon, “Democratic faction uneasy about healthcare bill,” Reuters, 7/13/09)
Small business groups immediately registered opposition, saying Democrats’ plan ‘threatens’ growth and job creation: “As our nation’s economy struggles to stabilize, policymakers agree that economic recovery, growth and job creation demand our focus and attention,” [National Association of Manufacturers] Executive Vice President Jay Timmons wrote in a letter to House Members. “However, some legislative proposals not only threaten sustainable growth and job creation, but also our economy’s ability to recover at all.”
“[National Federation of Independent Business] opposes the bill, it said, because “it threatens the viability of our nation’s job creators, fails to increase access and choice to all small businesses, destroys choice and competition for private insurance and fails to address the core challenge facing small business — cost.” (Murray, “NAM, NFIB Criticize House Health Care Proposal,” Roll Call, 7/15/09)
Government-run healthcare has ugly consequences: “This has medical consequences. The Concord study published in 2008 showed that cancer survival rates in Britain are among the worst in Europe. Five-year survival rates among U.S. cancer patients are also significantly higher than in Europe: 84% vs. 73% for breast cancer, 92% vs. 57% for prostate cancer. While there is more than one reason for this difference, surely one is medical innovation and the greater U.S. willingness to reimburse for it. (“Of NICE and Men,” Wall Street Journal, 7/08/09)
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