Local politicians disagree on health care repeal

By David Levinsky
Philly Burbs.com
www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/burlington_county_times_news/local-politicians-disagree-on-health-care-repeal/article_78ee32b1-fb2e-5ed0-a0bc-9839e86d02ac.html

Burlington County’s congressional delegation voted along party lines Wednesday as the U.S. House of Representatives approved a measure to repeal the 2-year-old health care reform law.

Republicans Frank LoBiondo of the 2nd District, Jon Runyan of the 3rd District and Chris Smith of the 4th District voted in favor of the repeal.

Democrat Rob Andrews of the 1st District voted against scrapping the overhaul.

The vote was the 33rd time in 18 months that the House has passed bills to repeal, defund or scale back portions of the reform law, known as the Affordable Care Act to supporters and Obamacare to detractors.

The approval was largely symbolic since the measure is doomed in the Democrat-controlled Senate, but Republicans have said it demonstrates their party’s resolve to do away with the law, which was upheld as constitutional two weeks ago by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The law seeks to expand health coverage through government subsidies and other measures, such as a provision allowing parents to keep dependents under 26 years old on their policies and another that forbids insurers from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions. But it also requires almost all Americans to obtain insurance or pay a penalty, defined as a tax by the Supreme Court.

Republicans have seized on that language to launch new attacks on the reform package.

“When Obamacare was introduced, the public was assured this was not a tax. But we have come to realize this is, in fact, one of the largest tax increases on the middle class in recent memory,” Runyan said Wednesday on the House floor. “We were told that Obamacare would strengthen Medicare, but, in fact, the bill diverts $500 million from Medicare to pay for other provisions of Obamacare.”

Andrews, who helped write the reform law two years ago, defended it during the House debate, saying the repeal would eliminate provisions that expand Medicare prescription-drug coverage as well as the measures insuring young adults and those with pre-existing conditions.

“This is not a government takeover of health care. It’s a consumer takeover of health care,” Andrews said, adding that the repeal vote was a distraction from Congress’ real task of crafting legislation to help increase employment.

“We should be working on putting people back to work,” he said.

The health care law long has been the subject of political debate in Washington, but the debate has grown more intense as November’s presidential and congressional elections approach.

The issue is one of the major focal points in the 3rd Congressional District race between Runyan and Democratic challenger Shelley Adler, who has stated she would not have voted for the law in 2010 but does not want it repealed. Instead, Adler says she wants Congress to make improvements that address the still-rising costs of health care.

Adler’s late husband, John Adler, took the identical position when he represented the district.

On Wednesday, Adler’s campaign spokesman, Michael Muller, reiterated that position and called the repeal vote a “partisan political stunt.”

“Congress must address the rising cost of health care that continues to be a tremendous drain on our economy. Instead, Congressman Runyan engaged in a partisan political stunt today, which is exactly what is wrong with Washington,” Muller said. “His vote would deny health care to people with pre-existing conditions, young adults, and all who seek preventive care. His vote would also drive up prescription-drug costs for seniors — all the while empowering insurance companies.”

Muller’s response came on the heels of a strongly-worded news release from the Runyan campaign that accused Adler of dodging the issue.

Runyan has said he wants the law repealed and replaced with common-sense reforms that increase competition among insurance companies and improve access to care.