Posted on 11/07/2009 2:42:22 AM PST by Thebaddog
GOUVERNEUR, NY - Congressman-elect Bill Owens was sworn in at noon today.
Owens indicated in a press release released shortly afterwards that he was now in favor of the the "Affordable Healthcare for America Act" bill in direct contrast to his earlier position during the election campaign.
According to Politico.com, Mr. Owens assured voters that he felt the public option had no place in the health care reform bill. Contrary to that position, Mr. Owens now indicates that he intends to vote in favor of the bill even though it now contains a public option.
UPDATED: A spokesman for Congressman Owens indicated correctly that Mr. Owens had recanted his solid position against public option later in the campaign, clarifying that he did not wish public option to be a 'litmus test' for the Health Reform bill and that on Oct. 30th, several days prior to the election, in a debate had stated that he generally supported the public option as it was now written (at that time.)
Mr. Owens also indicated during his campaign that he was firmly opposed to cutting Medicare benefits, taxing health care benefits, and increased taxes on the middle class in any way as you can see clearly in the screenshot below, taken directly from Mr. Owens' campaign website.
The House Health reform bill contains sections that cut Medicare benefits, tax existing health care benefits, and increases taxes on the middle class, yet Mr. Owens stated today that he will now vote in favor of those things contrary to what he had promised the voters of NY's 23rd Congressional District that he would vote against.
Mr. Owens indicated in his press release today that "This legislation will reform the insurance industry and provide increased access to affordable healthcare without taxing healthcare benefits, cutting Medicare benefits or raising taxes on the middle class, and that is exactly the direction we need to go."
When The Gouverneur Times attempted to contact Mr. Owens to clarify this information, we received no direct response to our phone or email inquiries. Both FactCheck.org and the Congressional Budget Office agree that HR 3962 contains potentially hundreds of billions of dollars in planned cuts to Medicare, yet Mr. Owens indicates that he supports this legislation and says that it does not cut Medicare benefits. Either Mr. Owens has been snowed or the public is about to be.
HR 3962 also includes a range of various taxes on middle-class families as well as language to repeal tax relief already in place. Has Congressman Owens blindly followed Ms. Pelosi's rhetoric in believing that the end to a tax cut is not the same thing as an increase in taxes or is he hedging his bet with very carefully chosen words?
HR 3962 now also contains language that allows illegal immigrants to be covered under the legislation. When The Gouverneur Times attempted to contact Mr. Owens for clarification of this language, we received no response other than the press release heretofore mentioned. Specifically, we asked if illegal immigrants would be forced to purchase healthcare insurance as citizens will be and whether or not they would be forced to do so at standard rates or if they would qualify for the public option subsidy.
The Associated Press said this morning that: "House leaders said that, in keeping with the Hispanic Caucus' demands, there was not likely to be any prohibition added to the House bill against illegal immigrants shopping in the exchange."
In a speech made to Congress a short time ago, President Obama had stated that the bill would not contain support for illegal immigrants - a statement for which he was called a "liar" by Rep. Joe Wilson. Rep. Wilson was severely chastised for his comment at the time though it would now seem to be true.
The mixed-up mess that was the 23rd Congressional District Special Election was a close race between Democrat Bill Owens and Conservative Doug Hoffman. Many feel that it was unlikely Mr. Owens would have won those crucial few thousand votes if the voting public was aware of his intent with regard to the Health Care bill. The majority of residents in this district do not support the Health Reform bill as it is now written and many feel like they've become victims of a fraud perpetrated by their chosen candidate.
Breaking campaign promises is not unusual for politicians... it's a cliche. This is almost certainly a record though. Mr. Owens broke no less than 4 promises in his first 24 hours in office.
Keep voting these lying sacks of CRAP into office NY- then stand aroudn with your heads up your butt wondering why NY is becoming so stinking expensive to live in, and why our constitutional rights are being eroded day after day- keep voting these morons into office and keep tryign to tell yourself ‘Golly, maybe it’ll be different this time-” Cripes! At least NJ got the message and voted that lying corrupt piece of turd out of office- they get it NY- but apparently you don’t!
You think that Scozzafava would have beat Owens?
Your comment is correct except with an incorrect(imo) assumption. It assumes that Scozzafava could have beaten Owens which I highly doubt. Hoffman got the conservative vote. They would have stayed home if he hadn’t been in the race.
She was also pro abortion, pro gay marriage, pro tax hike. I think it is great that they derailed her campaign. If she wants to take the same position as a democrat, let her run as a democrat.
From her policies Dede made it clear she opposes the public option...It was clear Hoffman who looks like gomer pyle
++++++++++++++++
And Scozzafava looks like Janet Reno on a good day - so? [Where’s the blue dress?] How do you know she wouldn’t have supported HR 3962? Owens says he opposed too, and now supports - suddenly. Why wouldn’t the worse than McCain-esque Scozzafava have done the same thing?
Bottom line - caving into RINOs and Democrats in a bad sheep costume like Scozzafava - bad for the country and the GOP.
The NY GOP could have run somebody decent - and they chose not to.
you’re right and the Andrew Johnson affair set a tone too that Congress can’t impeach just because they don’t like the guy’s policies.
some folks tried here in Louisiana
http://foolocracy.com/2009/02/congressman-faces-recall-after-six-weeks-on-the-job/
That has to be the fasted certification of an election ever. Votes counted all the way into Wednesday, and election certified by Friday, all in time to be sworn in to vote for Obamacare.
Let's get the facts straight.
As was made clear from the link, Owens did support the Government Option while he was campaigning.
Scuzzifavor was against it during the campaign.
Well, if you read my comments, I linked to the RCP poll that brought presumed Scozzafava success highly into doubt. I'm with you.
I simply raised the specter of Scozzafava winning and asked, 'would that have been good for the GOP?' Personally, I answer that NO.
If Hoffman had not been in the race, there is no certainty that Dede would have won the election.
Agreed. If Hoffman DID knock her out of the running, I say, good on him. If they have a DEM position let them run as a DEM.
Again? Why are you blaming the GOP when it’s the democrat that broke his word on this issue?
We don't get it, yet...they don't CARE!
As long as the agenda is implemented, all is well.
Using a military analogy...they've been ordered to take a hill and yes, there will be casualties but we must take that hill.
Why is anyone surprised? This Owens bozo is a typical lunatic liberal RAT.
BUMP
Do you think DeDe would have voted against it? I dont.
I guess Mark Levin’s theory that Dems and Reps are different isnt true in NY.
I kind of think you’re correct, but I’m not sure.
But I was thinking more along the lines of “running him out of town on a rail” like the scene in, “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?”
Then there’s always a bucket of tar and some feathers. Thanksgiving will be here soon, so there should be plenty of feathers available.
agree with you Jag, but that post was mighty early this morning, been up on a few minutes, coffee was still brewin, and I read that thread, sorry, I had to laugh.
Bruce: Owens says he opposed too, and now supports - suddenly.
FreeReign: Let’s get the facts straight.
As was made clear from the link, Owens did support the Government Option while he was campaigning.
Scuzzifavor was against it during the campaign.
+++++++++++++++++
Well facts straight, as I said, Owens conveniently opposed the public option in various ways (until Friday before the election), then suddenly supported (’at that time.’)
As I mentioned to GregH - are you sure Scuzzafava wouldn’t have done a Specter/Snowe? In any case, it looked likely that Hoffman had a good chance to win as a conservative and he darn well almost did. Too bad the GOP didn’t run someone with Hoffman’s positions, under the R banner.
They would have won handily.
Important lessons. Place blame where it’s deserved. The NY and RNC should not be selecting a leftie RINO like Scuzzafava.
That’s good. He’s probably taking advice from the scatterbrained Dede, who may have been more indicative of NY voters than some thought.
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