House Republicans find many angles for opposition to health bills

Oct 23 2009

House lawmakers who oppose Democratic health reform efforts are finding a variety of targets for their complaints.

For instance, "A coalition of pro-life groups, accompanied by several House Republicans outside the U.S. Capitol, delivered a petition signed by 137,000 Americans Wednesday voicing disapproval with current health care reform legislation," FOX News reports. Anti-abortion activists and legislators have argued the bills would allow taxpayer dollars to be applied to abortions because subsidies would allow consumers to purchase health plans on the private market, some of which cover the procedures. "It's not health care it should be excluded," said House Minority Whip Eric Cantor, D-Va. (Brandt, 10/21).

Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., meanwhile, called for more transparency in Congress's health care negotiations, citing his own state's "Sunshine Law," the St. Petersburg Times reports. "It's time for Congress to follow Florida's lead and ensure that any conference committee meeting on health care reform be conducted in the light of day and under full public view," he said in a news release (Leary, 10/21).

Rep. Shelley Capito, R-W.Va., focused on financial issues as she recently reiterated her opposition, WTRF, a Wheeling, W.Va., ABC-affiliate, reports. "She generally opposes many of the reforms in the Democrat-sponsored bills, saying they are costly, would raise taxes and force people out of their current insurance plans. … She believes other reforms should be pursued to bring down the cost of health care" (Williams, 10/22).