Teague vote against health bill wasn’t a surprise

It wasn’t really a surprise when U.S. Rep. Harry Teague, D-N.M., announced Friday that he planned to vote against the health care bill that ended up narrowly passing the House on Saturday. The bill was unpopular among many of Teague’s constituents, and he had already made one unpopular vote in favor of the cap-and-trade bill that passed the House earlier this year.

In fact, the Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza pointed out after Saturday’s vote that Teague was one of 31 House Democrats voting against the bill whose districts were won by Republican John McCain last year.

Teague has also been expressing concern about the costs associated with the bill for months.

Politics aside, Teague said Friday, in announcing he was voting against the bill, that his decision was based on the fact that the bill “doesn’t do enough to rein in insurance companies.”

Here’s Teague’s full statement, followed by the statements released by New Mexico’s other House members, who both voted in favor of the bill.

Teague’s statement

“Let me be clear, I believe we need to reform our health care system. I personally know how not having health insurance can impact individuals and families. Growing up, both my parents worked, but we still couldn’t afford health insurance. So when my parents got sick, I had to drop out of high school and go to work to help support our family. Those were difficult times and why as a small business owner I worked hard to provide affordable health insurance options to my employees and their families.

“I had hoped to have an opportunity to vote for a health insurance reform bill that would guarantee every American access to affordable, quality health care, and rein in the skyrocketing health care costs that are keeping people and businesses out of the system and driving up our national debt. Unfortunately, the current bill before Congress falls short of that and I am left with no choice but to vote against it.

“This bill doesn’t do enough to rein in insurance companies. It mandates millions of people and businesses to buy health insurance, but does little to make insurance companies control consumer costs. I am also concerned that American taxpayers will end up footing a nearly $900 billion tab for a bill that doesn’t do enough to ‘bend the cost curve’ in a way that permanently reduces both costs and the national debt.

“I came to Washington with personal experience of how a health care crisis can impact a family and with a commitment to getting this kind of misguided spending under control. Health insurance reform is too important to settle for a bill that appears to be a temporary fix that guarantees more money for insurance companies and a bigger national debt, but in the end doesn’t lower the cost of health care for New Mexico families and businesses. I intend to continue pushing for reform that lowers the cost of health insurance for families and businesses in a fiscally responsible way.”

Statement from U.S. Rep. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M.

“This was a truly historic vote. We are now as close as we have ever been to providing quality health care to all Americans and to reforming our broken health insurance system. The Affordable Health Care for America Act represents a uniquely American solution to our nation’s health insurance crisis. The legislation will bring peace of mind to New Mexico’s working families, seniors and small business owners by guaranteeing stability, lowering costs, improving quality and providing a greater choice of plans.”

Heinrich also released video of a statement he gave on the House floor Saturday during debate of the bill.

Statement from U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M.

“The Affordable Health Care for America Act will take significant steps to reform our broken health insurance system that makes it too difficult for families to find affordable, accessible health insurance. Right now, too many families are being hurt by out-of-control health insurance bills, too many individuals are being denied coverage due to pre-existing conditions, and too many small businesses are struggling with a costly and inefficient system. This legislation will end insurance company discrimination and cherry-picking, make coverage more affordable and provide more options for consumers. It will level the playing field between insurance companies and consumers. And while the final public option may not be perfect, I believe it will be an important tool to increase choice and competition.”