Kosmas, Boyd take a pass on health care as Democrats squeak by

U.S. Reps. Suzanne Kosmas and Allen Boyd were the dissenting votes among the Florida delegation on health care.

Otherwise, every Democrat voted in favor and every Republican against. The final vote was 220-215 (with 39 Democrats opposed) underscoring the difficulty ahead for Democrats and President Obama as the debate moves to the Senate.

Tampa Democrat Kathy Castor, who played a role in expanding medical school residencies for Florida and better consumer protections against Medicare Advantage marketing, said it was historic, "along the lines of Social Security and Medicare. This is the next step, the one that has been missing for decades."

Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor, bemoaned the $1.1 trillion price tag and said measures would hurt small businesses by requiring more coverage. "I'm worried about the loss of jobs." He also faulted cuts to Medicare Advantage, which is subsidized at a higher rate than Medicare. Bilirakis said his office phones had been ringing all day and five out of six constituents opposed the plan.

Democratic leaders pressed well into Saturday night for more party support. Obama's campaign arm, Organizing for America, even tried to gain Republican support by sending e-mail to voters in districts that voted for Obama over John McCain last year. "With the big vote happening in as little as a few hours, there's not a moment to lose," read the e-mail.

Rep. C.W. Bill Young, R-Indian Shores, was among the targets but it did not resonate with him.

-- Alex Leary, Times staff writer

Comments

[Obama is the man!]

To be sure, DINO's (Democrats In Name Only) are going to be primaried for opposing HealthCare Reform.

[dem party is a cesspool of repubs]

All Dino's out!

That's it for me.

[the truth hurts]

Please, please, please. The d's went around and gave a pass to 39 D's, mostly in districts facing tough elections. If they held about 30 less seats, they would not have been so easy on their members!

[bye bye, DINO scum]

DINO scum want people to DIE! That's what this is all about, remember?!?! The longer we wait for this badly needed reform, the more people will DIE!

Kosmas and the rest of the sellouts have blood on their hands tonight.

[Lawson for Congress]

Statement from Senator Al Lawson:

"I am greatly disappointed in Allen Boyd's decision to join with Washington Republicans in opposing real health care reform. Not only is Allen Boyd on the wrong side of history, but he is on the wrong side of the 126,000 of his constituents who currently lack health care coverage. The people of North Florida deserve better than this; the people of North Florida deserve better than Allen Boyd.”

[Democrats Care!]

This looks like the bill that ALL Americans need. Congratulations Democrats. Thanks to all who have worked tirelessly for years to bring this assistance to the needy, and thanks Nancy Pelosi for your guidance and oversight. At last we can put the selfishness and greed of conservatives behind us and join the ranks of civilized nations once again!

[Clearwatermike]

The bill was approved on 11:16 PM Saturday night. Sure 39 Democrats voted against it. But the key vote was at 10:59 PM on a motion to recommit (kill) the bill. Only 13 House Democrats voted against that. Boyd and Kostas helped pass the bill by voting not to recommit (kill) on that vote as did 24 other Democrats who voted both ways on this bill. Nope, they aren't DINOs but loyal Democrats trying to deceive their constituents about their true vote.

[mainstream D]

Kosmas and Boyd stood up against a sychotic left wing governing party today. They are to be commended for putting country above party.

[Peter]

Allen Boyd is a hero. This bill is a disaster. Hopefully, it will be killed in the Senate.

[Michelle o Has Backhair]

5 years in jail and/or up to a $250,000 fine for not purchasing health insurance? Maybe when those who cannot afford it end up in jail, only then will everybody be insured. The Wall Street Journal said this is history's worst bill and yet you all applaud it like it's going to help you. When was the last (and first) time govt did anything for personally - other than punish you? I'll go to jail before I partake in this power grab. If you are worried about your privacy now, wait until your medical history gets stolen and see how you like govt health care then!

[Ray Bellamy, MD]

This was a tough vote. Many observers, myself included, feel the bill, if it becomes law, will be worse than what we have now. It is likely to fail over a period of years after it starts in 2013, like the last 8 similar bills in different states, and when it does, trust in government to solve problems like this will be further destroyed. It has some good features: expands Medicaid to more poor who need some coverage, although lousy, and the few regulations to prevent exclusion on basis of preexisting conditions, etc. are needed. But with no price control, insurance policies will continue to rise rapidly in cost, and there is little to control costs, so it won't work. Won't be universal, won't prevent medical bankruptcies, won't result in affordable policies, not egalitarian, with most Americans having a lousy skimpy policy inferior to that of Congress. One report I saw last night reported the CBO now estimates it would cost 1.3 trillion with all the late changes. So much for "not one dime...." The only way to do universal coverage without breaking the bank is with an expansion of Medicare. If it is funded by general revenue instead of payroll taxes, it is progressive and we can have true universal, affordable, comprehensive, egailitarian coverage like the rest of the developed world for what we are paying now. We cannot afford to do reform and still waste 400 billion dollars a year on the private insurers.

[Jim D]

220 traitors this is a very sad day in American history and now we get to watch Obama go with hat in hand and beg to the chinese to loan us more money to pay for it.

[Take it back, Barack!]

6:25 What a shame that Bush gave away so much needed money with his irresponsible tax cuts for the rich. We can't use the selfishness of conservatives as an excuse not to do what's right however. I see the bill includes a tax on those making over $500K - that's certainly a step in the right direction!

[A big step in the right direction.]

6:25 Ray, it's too bad that the traitorous Republicans gave no cooperation whatsoever to crafting a truly comprehensive health care bill. Instead, they chose to play partisan power games and lie to the public. Yes it would be nice to have some of the things you mentioned, but we'll never get it all at once while we have one entire political party that disguises the truth and agressively votes against the public good.

[BA in St. Pete]

Thanks Mrs. Castor for spending more of OUR money. I am sure many, including me, will be doing everything we can to FIRE YOU in 2010. By voting for this bill you OBVIOUSLY care nothing about what your constituents want. Time for you to go.

[Jim D]

Perfect freedom is as necessary to the health and vigor of commerce as it is to the health and vigor of citizenship.
Patrick Henry

Will Kathy Castor crawl out from under her South Tampa rock to explain why she broke her oath of office or will she face the people of the 11th district. The Queen Marxist of Tampa has to be shown the door in 2010.

[why?]

why do they hate old people?

[Boyd is a Health Lobby Lap Dog]

I have no party affiliation and have voted for Boyd in the past. Now that I know he's been whoring for the health care lobby dollars, I'll never support him again.

[Omega83]

If a House with a 40+ majority only passed it by 5, no way the Senate passes anything like this.

What the scary part will be is what comes out of conference. 10 Democrats and no cameras will decide how this really plays out

[Karl]

So what about that Prozac-queen, Bill Nelson?

[kind of hard to hid behind a 2000 page bill................questions must be answered!]

The House bill has passed — barely and belatedly — and it is now dead. Nothing like it will ever pass the Senate. The question now is whether anything will, now that the voters have spoken in New Jersey and Virginia — and now that the exceedingly narrow margin in the House will likely invite even greater scrutiny of that which is being proposed.

Greater scrutiny will not help the Democrats' efforts. In truth, their hopes for passage largely hinge on successfully hiding two plain facts from the voters: One, the House Republicans and the Congressional Budget Office have now shown that a bill costing $61 billion can lower Americans' insurance premiums, while bills costing $1.7 trillion cannot (and instead would raise them substantially). Two, the Democrats' plans would be paid for only if they follow through on plans to siphon hundreds of billions of dollars out of already-barely-solvent Medicare, and to do so just in time for the baby boomers' retirement.

Given the magnitude of the challenge of continuing to hide these plain facts from an increasingly attentive citizenry, the Democratic health-care train has a very bumpy ride ahead — as it rolls into the chamber that the American Founders thought from the beginning would ultimately decide our fate: the Senate.

[Clearwatermike]

See my earlier comment at 2:15 AM. The following 28 Dems voted against the Republicans and then with them on the Health Bill. They are trying to deceive the folks back home. They are: Boyd and Kosmas from FL, Adler (N.J.), Altmire, Baird, Barrow, Boccieri, Boucher, Chandler, Davis (TN), Edwards (TX), Herseth Sandlin, Holden, Kissell, Kratovil, Kucinich, Markey (CO), Marshall, Massa, Melancon, Nye, Paul, Peterson, Ross, Shuler, Tanner, Taylor, and Teague.

[St Pete native]

Bill Young needs to stop standing in the way of reform. Bill Nelson and whoever it is that Crist plugged into Martinez' spot better realize that it is the will of the majority that a strong health care reform bill is passed.

[disgusted]

Let's hope Allen Boyd, by trying to play both sides of the fence, falls off and suffers political death.

[Clearwatermike]

See my comments of 2:15 & 11:44. I should not including Paul, he is a Republican. I want to add the following Democrats to my list who voted against and with the Republicans on the Health Care bill. They were: S. Murphy (NY), McMahon (NY), Skelton (MO), McIntyre (NC), and Davis (AL).

[Clearwatermike]

Sorry about my English: I should not have INCLUDED Congressman Paul.

[ann]

Kosmas seems to have forgotten who got her elected in the first place. She won't be getting my support next time around.

[Susan S]

Kosmas will probably be defeated because of that vote.

[Grace]

Women's reproductive freedom sold out.

WHAT'S IT GOING TO TAKE TO PASS HEALTH CARE REFORM THAT SERVES WOMEN? LEADERSHIP.

Despite hundreds of thousands of voters like you and me who called on members of the House of Representatives to include women's health care in health care reform, the bill that passed on Saturday includes a ban on private abortion coverage for millions of women and would prohibit it in the new "public option."

We can't let the Senate also betray women. It's time to use our strongest weapon: the White House.

President Obama campaigned on a promise to put reproductive health care at the center of his reform plan. Supporters of women's health voted for him and contributed to his campaign in record numbers — and now it's time for the president to reaffirm his commitment to women's health, and demand that Congress reject any bill that leaves women worse off under health care reform than they are today. Take a moment right now to tell President Obama to stand with us to protect women's health care today and every single day until reform is passed.

Stand with Planned Parenthood.
http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/hcr09bse_afw?qp_source=hcr09bse_afhp

[Equal Rights]

Not the first time Allan's been in a minority from what i have heard.

[get-smart]

'Black Hole - Mo' Diseases, Mo' Machines, Mo' Money.' Episode II

Narrator: In the last episode, on a Saturday, Timmy and Bobbie went to Theater Six to see the movie 'Black Hole - It Came From Beyond.' Mikey was to meet up with them inside the theater. By mistake, Timmy and Bobbie went into the wrong theater. Unknown to the boys, a movie called 'Black Hole - Mo' Diseases, Mo' Machines, Mo' Money' was being played. They went to the movie to see 'Black Hole - It Came From Beyond.' After the movie the boys went home disappointed.

Timmy goes home and his mother asks, 'How was the movie Dear .. was it scary?'
Timmy responds, 'It sucked! I knew it would suck when all the old people came in and it smelt like Ben-gay.'
-----------------------------
Episode II:
(Monday at school) Mikey sees Timmy in the hall.

Mikey: Hey Tim! Where were you Saturday, dude? .. I was looking for you in the movie .. you didn't go, did you, dude?

Timmy: Me and Mikey were there, dude .. it sucks, we went to the wrong movie, dude .. I didn't know there were two 'Black Hole' movies playing, dude?

Mikey: Dude, I told you Theater-3 .. I was great, dude ..and Mari was there .. she sat next to me!

Timmy: You suck, dude .. the movie should be sued, they had a sign out front that said, 'Black Hole!' .. the picture on the sign showed a black hole with a bunch old people in wheelchairs being sucked in .. the place smelt like Ben-gay .. pewew! .. We went to the wrong movie, dude!

(students form around the Mikey and Timmy to listen in)

Mikey: The place smelt like Ben-gay ..dude! You smell like Ben-gay, dude! [chanting] Ben-gay! Ben-gay! Ben-gay!

[the group starts chanting] 'Ben-gay! Ben-gay! Ben-gay! Ben-gay! Ben-gay! Ben-gay!'

Timmy: I'm NOT Ben-gay you f%$#s! .. YOU SUCK! .. You'll see! when you are paying 80% in taxes just to keep all the old people alive on machines .. YOU SUCK! Yeah, you should go see the movie .. YOU SUCK, DUDE!

(later at home)

Tim: I'm home!

Mother: So how was school, Timmy? What did you learn?

Tim: School sucks! I want to go to another school!

Mother: What's the problem, son?

Tim: All the kids are calling me Ben-gay, 'cause I went to that stupid old people 'Black Hole' movie.

Mother: I would like to move too, Timmy .. but the taxes have increased with all the new non-taxpaying Medicaid and welfare recipients. Your father and I are both strapped for cash too, son.

Tim: Ooooh! This Sucks!

Cheers -

[Charles]

I don't know who is advising Kosmas but she managed to alienate her base and piss off the Republicans because she thinks they are stupid enough to believe that she did this for other than political reasons! Number ONE rule of politics...NEVER tick off the BASE. Even Republicans wouldn't be mad because it would have been what they expected...now they are INSULTED!!!

[Clearwatermike]

The following are the Democratic Congressmen who voted with the Republicans on the last two key votes on the Health Care bill. They might truly be referred to as DINOs (Democrats In Name Only). They were: Bright of Alabama, Minnick of Idaho, Griffith of Alabama, Childers of Mississippi, Matheson of Utah, Boren of Oklahoma, and Gordon of Tennessee. All represent districts won by McCain by 18% or greater.

[Peter]

Kudos to every democrat and republican who voted against this monstrosity of a health bill.

[A public service announcement brought to you by your friends in the insurance industry]

Kudos to every democrat and republican who voted against this monstrosity of a health bill.

[Paulzilla]

I second 5:47's kudos.
The Far Left crowd in Congress (you know who they are) are bound and determined to have their way with this horrible bill, no matter how much additional damage to our economy - More than $1 Trillion, folks! and that's just the initial cost.

The public doesn't want it, not, at least in its present form. and the public will show its displeasure in 2010 by booting out of Congress all Dems and RINOs who voted in favor of this beast.

Get ready - the Obamacrats are about to be flushed out of office.

[Thomas]

Boyd, Grayson, and Kosmas are goners in less than 12 months.

A clean purge is coming!