Voices on both sides quick to sound after health care passage

With only a lone Republican crossing the line and nearly 40 Democrats going turncoat, the House of Representatives still voted, 220-215, tonight to pass a historic health care reform.

Locally, Representative Edward J. Markey (D), issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed a historic bill to reform the health care system Saturday night:

"This historic vote for comprehensive health care reform is exactly what I came here to Congress do," said Markey. "Thirty three years ago, I called for comprehensive health care reform in my first congressional campaign. And today, I am proud to say we are closer than ever to fulfilling that dream."

Quickly responding to the bill’s passage, Representative Mike Coffman (R-CO) released his own statement tonight:

"Do not be mistaken, the only thing this health care bill will do is make our nation sicker. It will cut care for our seniors, it will kill millions of jobs, it will raise taxes, and it will strangle our economy,” Coffman said,
"Also, be clear — a vote against this bill is not a vote against reform. It is a vote against reckless spending that jeopardizes our children’s future, and their children’s future. It is a vote against a trillion dollar government takeover of health care, and it is a vote against the radical liberal agenda that threatens our freedom. I cannot in good conscience support a bill our nation cannot afford and does not need — this 1,990 page monstrosity is just that."

The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America expressed their own disappointment with the bill:

"Just last week, the House Democratic Leadership unveiled a 1,990 page bill that was touted as the byproduct of months of negotiations between House Democratic Leadership and members of the moderate and more liberal factions of their caucus yet the ‘revised’ bill closely resembles the original bill," says Robert Rusbuldt, IIABA president & CEO. "The Big ‘I’ is greatly disappointed that after months of negotiations, hearings, votes and debate in three House committees we seem to be back on square one: a bad bill that includes a ‘public option’ and deprives the American people of true choices in their health care."

The major labor union, AFL-CIO, struck back, supporting the decision to pass the bill:

“By voting for the Affordable Health Care for America Act, the U.S. House of Representatives took a momentous step toward realizing fair, quality, affordable health care for America,” the union said. “We heard a lot of rhetoric today, but in the end it boils down to this: It is time to say “yes” to a more secure future for Americans — and that is how the majority in the House of Representatives answered. … We applaud Speaker Pelosi, the other members of the leadership and the majority in the House of Representatives for bringing us closer than ever to our long-held goal.”