Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV

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November 8, 2009

Two local congressmen divided on health care reform bill

By BILL ARCHER

BLUEFIELD, Va. — While the House of Representatives passed the Affordable Health Care for America Act Saturday night on a 220-215 vote, support of the bill wasn’t unilateral, even among the Democratic majority in the House.

U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall, D-W.Va., voted in favor of passage of the bill, stating in a press release that the people of his district believe, “that healthcare and its insurance costs are out of whack,” and that he voted “to bring an end to the moment when a diagnosis becomes a death sentence for those without health insurance.”

However, U.S. Rep. Frederick C. “Rick” Boucher, D-Va., voted against the bill. In his statement on the House floor, Boucher was quoted as stating that he opposed the bill that passed the House, “because of my concern that a government operated health insurance plan could place at risk the survival of our region’s hospitals.”

Boucher made his statement on the floor of the House, prior to the vote, and was posted on line Sunday, on his web site. He also was quoted as stating that he hopes the House-Senate conference on the legislation will result in the development of legislation he can support.

“I also believe that bipartisan participation is needed on a measure of this scope which affects every American,” Boucher was quoted as stating in his remarks in the House on Saturday. “The best ideas of Democrats and Republicans alike should be drawn upon to fashion the final legislation. That did not happen as the House bill was constructed.”

Neither Boucher or Rahall could be reached Sunday afternoon for additional comment. Boucher issued a news advisory on Sunday, announcing that he will hold a press briefing on the health care reform legislation at 9:30 a.m., this morning at the Bristol, Va., city council chambers.

— Contact Bill Archer at barcher@bdtonline.com

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