March 22, 2010

Larson hails health care bill passage

Press release from U.S. Rep. John Larson, the East Hartford Democrat whose 1st District includes Bristol:

LARSON HAILS PASSAGE OF HISTORIC HEALTH CARE BILL

Washington, DC—Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01), Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, released the following statement after the passage of health reform legislation.
“Today, this Congress accomplished something that was almost 100 years in the making.  When the President signs this legislation into law, the American people will see clearly whose side this Democratic Caucus is on.  We are standing up to health insurance company abuses and decades of discrimination and mistreatment.  We have lowered the cost of health insurance.  We have lowered the budget deficit.  And, we have improved the quality of health care for all Americans.
“I am so proud to be part of this historic moment along the lines of the passage of Social Security and Medicare.”


Here's what Larson said on the House floor during yesterday's health care debate:
Madame Speaker, I rise on this momentous day in support of this historic legislation.  Just as our predecessors stood up for the American people to pass Social Security and Medicare, today we affirm our commitment to families across this country by passing comprehensive health care reform.  Today, Democrats are once again showing whose side they are on, the side of the American people.
While my colleagues on the other side of the aisle like to focus on those who are against this effort, I’ve heard from too many of my own constituents whose stories exemplify why we need health reform and encouraged me to support this bill.
Constituents like Jody from Bristol.  Jody and her family had to downgrade their health insurance after their premiums jumped 30% in one year.  Just a few months later Jody was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease.  After 12 months her medical debt was more than $30,000.  Now, even after she has insurance, she is struggling to pay off the $35,000 in credit card bills her family amassed to pay her health care.
It’s in stories like these, of people facing severe financial difficulty because of medical debt, being denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition, or losing their coverage when they get sick that creates the moral imperative to right these wrongs.  In this bill we will cap out of pocket costs, end discrimination based on pre-existing health conditions, and end the practice of insurance rescissions.
The American people may not like the complicated legal language of the bill or the messy process it takes in Washington to get historic acts accomplished.  But after this bill is signed the parent whose children have been denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition will be able to get health insurance for them; young adults will no longer have to fear being without coverage because they will be able to stay on their parent’s insurance; seniors will get relief from skyrocketing prescription drug prices; and small businesses will get tax breaks for offering their employees health.
Once this bill is signed, this country will be stronger, the economy will be stronger and the American people will be stronger than ever before.  I thank the Speaker and my Democratic colleagues for their efforts on behalf of the American people and urge my colleagues to support this legislation.  

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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm so happy that I will have less choice in the type of medical practice I want to receive. This will make decisions much easier.

Concerned Constructive Conservative said...

The state's $1 billion in the red

The country is $12 trillion in the debt.

Our currency is being devalued, costs to business makes the US uncompetitive and this is going to multiply the aforementioned problems.

I don't see this as a good thing.

Odin said...

You should exercise better choice in who you listen to. The Republicans and the Tea-Baggers have been lying to you 24/7 about health care reform. You will not have any less choice than you have now (unless you were going to chose to be one of the 40 thousand Americans who die for lack of health care).

Anonymous said...

I sure hope Larson has this health care for his needs and not the freebie by taxpayers.

Anonymous said...

Positiveliy Wrong Loses again! Boo Hoo Hey gutless why don't you run ? Afraid you'll lose?

Anonymous said...

Democrats have proven beyond any doubt that the HATE america .

Anonymous said...

More proof that Obama is plotting the downfall of this country.

Anonymous said...

9:03, Thanks to people like Odin who keep drinking the Kool Aid!

Anonymous said...

What are you hatemongers see later what are you going to moan about?

Anonymous said...

"What are you hatemongers see later what are you going to moan about?"


What does that even mean??

Anonymous said...

Odin,

What if the Republican's and tea baggers end up being right?? What do we do then?

If I was a young person I would pay the 400 dollar fine go without insurance and then when I got seriously sick go and get insurance because I cannot be denied for preexisting conditions. There is no need to actually get the coverage until you actually need it based on this system the Democrats have created here because the penalties are cheaper than the actual insurance.
As to the Union health insurance that they have been fighting to get and keep for decades, it is going to be taxed at some point because it is index to inflation, but not health insurance inflation, just CPI. So while health cost have be going up at a rate of 10 percent per year this bill indexes to a false inflation rate and all the Union guys are going to get wacked at some point.

Also this bill only shows ten years of revenues and 6 years of expenses that is how it came in a has deficit reducer, but in reality this thing is going to bankrupt our country!! We already have trillions of dollars of unfunded liabilities between social security and Medicare, so let’s just add another!!! Democrats should be ashamed of the process to pass this bill and the bill itself and the victory they are claiming was won against the AMERICAN PEOPLE who by and large do not want this bill!!! We want reform, but not a complete remake so we are more like Europe, where unemployment is in the 20 percent range in many countries. GOD HELP US ALL!!!

Anonymous said...

3:29, You're wasting your breath trying to argue rationally with Odin. He's drunk on the Kool-Aid and high on Hope and Change.

Anonymous said...

Nobody hates anything worse than you 7:21 You are the real hate monger.

Anonymous said...

Sorry make that about the real hatemonger! 7:01

Anonymous said...

What happened to all the "against everything" people? On vacation? Must have some $$$$$$$$$$$$$ Buy a laptop so you can stay tuned with you negativism.

Concerned Constructive Conservative said...

March 22, 2010 2:21 PM:

Can't you spell or are you worried someone is going to catch you surfing the web during work?

If I run would you support me? If not than why ask?

Is the fact that a Democrat voted for this bill mean it's correct in your mind? I would praise Larson if he had voted against this bill, would you have?

If I lose we all lose. Don't you get it? What's your problem?

Anonymous said...

Positively wrong . Ya never know I might if I knew what or who you are. And if you stand for anything. How can I support a nothing?

Anonymous said...

Positively wrong don't have the guts to run. He don't even have the guts to say who he is. But likes to pretend he is a teacher correcting everybody. Is that you Art?

Anonymous said...

3:29 When you do all those things and have no where to turn, do it Republican style jump off a bridge.

Anonymous said...

Ho Hum I guess you insurance saleman will have to go to work now, HaHa fat chance!