U.S. Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo., said he will support the health care measure unveiled Thursday by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Salazar, whose spokesman last week denounced his listing as a supporter of the public-option for health care by former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, said the bill met several of his conditions.
“The House is set to pass this landmark health care reform legislation, and I will support it,” he said in a statement to The Daily Sentinel on Thursday afternoon.
Earlier in the day, the National Republican Congressional Committee circulated by e-mail a photo showing Salazar in the background as the bill was unveiled.
“He chose Pelosi,” after Salazar “evaded and misled his constituents for months,” the GOP said.
Salazar is “supporting a government takeover of health care that raises taxes, forces millions of Americans out of their current coverage and may destroy millions of American jobs,” RNCC spokeswoman Joanna Burgos said.
The measure includes a so-called “public option” or government-provided health insurance.
Salazar previously has said he would support the public option if it was necessary to reform the health-care system.
He didn’t refer to the public option in his statement, but said his district, which includes most of western and southern Colorado, would benefit from the measure.
“At my request, the speaker and the White House included negotiated rates which greatly benefit rural America and districts like the Third that are disadvantaged by the current system,” Salazar said in the statement. “I also asked, and it was included, that the secretary be allowed to negotiate prescription drug prices with manufacturers — a move that will save us billions of dollars.”
He also praised the measure, saying it would immediately end discrimination for pre-existing medical conditions, prevent people who become ill from losing coverage, eliminate co-pays for preventive care, place yearly caps on what individuals pay and eliminate waste, fraud and overpayments to private insurance companies.
“Any American that has insurance will be able to keep their doctor and their plan,” he said. “This bill provides affordability for all Americans, security to our seniors and responsibility to our children by not adding to the deficit.”
Email GARY HARMON
Comments
By jackpot Jerry
Nov 8, 2009 10:33 AM | Link to this
here is a "fact" for you libs out there - the middle class is in the process of being cut in half by these silly bills running through the democratically controlled house. So, the only people I can think of that benefit from this bill are the companies that have the contracts to produce food stamps, oh yeah and anyone dealing in gold.
By Oliver
Oct 31, 2009 9:07 AM | Link to this
Keb-
PS: Pueblo was part of the 3rd CD prior to redistricting in 2000...
By Oliver
Oct 31, 2009 8:41 AM | Link to this
Keb-
Salazr won in Moffat County, Gunnison County, Garfield County, San Miguel County, LaPlata County, Pitkin County...
By Oliver
Oct 31, 2009 8:36 AM | Link to this
Ltpar: Please tell all your friends to vote, on Nov 11 2010. Not before, wait until then, and PACK THE POLLING PLACES.
By Keb
Oct 31, 2009 8:32 AM | Link to this
So... do you ever wonder why a Leftie is "representing" all us solid Conservative Tax Paying Traditional Americans?
It is because the Democrat Party Gerrymandered our District of Western Slope ranchers, miners, oil and gas workers, farmers, and Conservative Retirees to include just enough automatic Demo-Votes to overweigh ours.....they included the little city of Pueblo in our District.
He don't have to listen to You!
By Kim
Oct 30, 2009 11:26 PM | Link to this
LIAR! Salazar, you vote for this bill and you've voted yourself right out of office! Don't just write your comments here, write and call him too, I have. He's only doing this for his own political gain he doesn't care what we want!!! I hope all you morons that voted for these clowns WAKE UP!
HOW COME THERE'S A CLAUSE THAT SAYS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS DON'T HAVE TO ABIDE BY THE NEW HEALTHCARE BILL?
If this bill was so "urgent" then you tell me why it's going to take 4 YEARS for any of it to take effect......hmmmmmm, seems like that's about right After the next presidential election. If you want a Marxist society then move out of America!!!!!
By ttravis
Oct 30, 2009 9:00 PM | Link to this
Salazar looks at the Facts, not the propaganda, and decided that the right thing to do is side with the middle class, with free market principles and with responsible economics. I am sure he made his decision on communication with voters who contacted his office with their concerns, just like he did with the clean energy bill that he voted against.
By Rathburn
Oct 30, 2009 7:51 PM | Link to this
Has anyone read this 2000 pages of special intrest kickbacks and government control? Has our congressman? The guy forcing it down our throats!
Here are a few highlights.
Page 94ıSection 202(c) prohibits the sale of private individual health insurance policies, beginning in 2013, forcing individuals to purchase coverage through the federal government
Page 225ıSection 330 permitsıbut does not requireıMembers of Congress to enroll in government-run health care
The entire bill can be found on Congressman's Salazar's...err wait, make that Congressman's Rehberg website. Wonder why our rep won't post it?
http://rehberg.house.gov/uploads/HR3962.pdf
By xena
Oct 30, 2009 2:59 PM | Link to this
Looks like Salazar has been reading your comments and finally figured out who votes for him . . . and who never will no matter what he does.
By scott
Oct 30, 2009 2:00 PM | Link to this
Why is this even news? My gosh Salazar isn't man enough to get his butt to Grand Juction and answer to us for anything,why do you think he would be man enough to stand up to the witch Pelosi? Between Salazar and Udall we got screwed big time on the westslope.
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