Posted on 03/25/2010 6:25:37 PM PDT by MsLady
Thank you for your communication on health care reform legislation, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590), which passed the U.S. House of Representatives on March 21, 2010. I was honored to witness the signing of this historic legislation by President Obama at the White House on March 23, 2010.
My vote on health care reform was the most difficult vote I have cast during my 20 years as a state representative and a member of Congress. This legislation will affect every American. During my time in Congress, I have cast several very difficult votes, such as going to war in Iraq and Afghanistan, military actions in Bosnia and Kosovo, and the impeachment of President Clinton. I studied each issue carefully and spent many hours reading legislation, conducting research, and talking with constituents in my congressional district and my colleagues in Congress.
I am honored to serve on the Energy and Commerce Committee, where most of the language included in the House health care bill was drafted. As the House health care legislation was developed and amended throughout the committee process, I was actively involved in improving and modifying the bill.
I voted YES on the final health care reform bill, H.R. 3590, which was a compromise between the legislative proposals passed by U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate last year. The president also suggested changes that were incorporated in the final bill. The final product included strong consumer protections, eliminated the "sweet heart deals" in the Senate bill and dropped the "public option" included in the House bill.
Throughout the health care debate, I held firm in my insistence that no public funding for abortions would be included in the bill and that current Hyde amendment restrictions on funding of abortions would be maintained. When the House voted on November 7, 2009 I was successful in passing an amendment that upheld the Hyde restrictions. However, the Senate could only muster 45 votes in support of my amendment and it was defeated on December 8, 2009. I remained concerned that the health care bill passed by the Senate allowed public funding for abortions at community health centers. After the Stupak amendment was defeated in the Senate, pro-life House Democrats explored additional legislative proposals and procedures in an effort to secure the 60 votes needed in the Senate to limit federal funding for abortions. With only 45 pro-life votes in the Senate, passage was impossible.
My House pro-life colleagues and I then negotiated an Executive Order with President Obama, which "maintains current Hyde amendment restrictions governing abortion policy and extends those restrictions to the newly-created health insurance exchanges." The Executive Order also specifically prevents the funding and performing of abortions at community health centers. This Executive Order has the full force and effect of law and was signed on March 24, 2010 by President Obama in the Oval Office of the White House. I attended the signing of the Executive Order where the President was emphatic in his support of the Executive Order referring to it as "iron clad."
Some pro-life groups have condemned the Executive Order and demanded statutory language similar to the Stupak amendment. The reality is the Stupak amendment only received 45 of the required 60 votes in the Senate. The Executive Order was the only vehicle available to maintain the Hyde restrictions in the health care reform legislation.
I am surprised and disappointed by the reaction of some pro-life groups in opposition to the Executive Order given the fact that these same groups embraced President Bush's Executive Order in June 2007 banning embryonic stem cell research. The language on enforcement of the Executive Order through the courts is identical in both presidents' Executive Orders.
In the final health care reform bill, veterans are exempt from the legislation. The VA and TRICARE systems remain untouched. Seniors remain on Medicare, receive relief from the donut hole and have their preventive screenings and tests fully covered.
Small businesses immediately receive tax credits to assist owners in providing health care coverage for employees. Consumer protections prohibit insurance companies from discriminating against individuals with pre-existing conditions, extend insurance coverage for dependent children up to age 26, prevent health plans from dropping insurance coverage when people are sick and eliminate lifetime caps on coverage.
I have enclosed information sheets on many of the highlights found in the new health care reform legislation, which will provide 32 million uninsured Americans with access to quality, health care.
Thank you for your communication. If you should have further questions or concerns on health care or any other issue, please visit my web site at www.house.gov/stupak.
Sincerely,
BART STUPAK Member of Congress
Thanks much for that info. Benishek will get a contribution from me. Eff Stupak. Time is retire the bastard.
No more RINOs!
No downstate carpetbaggers! No trolls!
Benishek is a product of the Upper Peninsula ... born in Iron River, works in Iron Mountain, lives in Crystal Falls.
Jason Allen probably doesn't know the way to the U.P., and once they vote for him, they'll never see him until the next election. The U.P. needs a Yooper rep!
Benishek is a surgeon, not a politician. Jason Allen, although he is a businessman, is also a professional politician. Given the choice, I choose the man with a life outside of politics.
Thou hast forgotten the “Barf Alert” for this post.
You are most welcome. It’s the Christian thing to do when you oppose abortionists like Stupak ;)
I still prefer “Health Control” over “Obamacare”.
Thanks, that’s what I thought.
I almost wonder if Stupak just isn’t very bright.
Yes, Dan Benishek was on Levin’s show the other night. I sent him an email but I am waiting to send money until the other candidates come forward. Benishek sounds like a nice guy but he didn’t say much of anything on the air! He needs to get some fire in his belly.
He said that he didn’t know if people were supporting him or trying to defeat Stupid Is As Stupid Does.
Right now, it’s the latter, Dan..be grateful for the attention you are getting and step up or step down and let someone who is going to work tirelessly to defeat this POS emerge.
I would not consider Allen a RINO by any stretch. He currently Represents Mackinac and Chippewa counties in the UP. So Yoopers have Voted for him for years. I have always found him a business man first and a politician second. Given a choice I would take Allan over Stupak any day.
Given a choice, there are yellow dogs I would vote for over Stupak.
Getting rid of Stupak is the goal we should be focused on, no?
My sister-in-law tells me that Benishek needs to raise $100K to get professional help from the Michigan GOP. I think Sarah's right, and a robust debate during the primary is a good thing. How much does Allan need to get to $100K? If we make sure they both reach the magic number, the best candidate wins the primary, and can better match up with Stupak in November.
Oh so sorry....lol
It was so obvious that Stupak was being used like a cheap date. It was embarrassing.
Stupak, enjoy your next few months in Congress because you will be packing your bag in November.
Jason Allen doesn’t live in the district. Traverse City is in Dave Camp’s district. National Review got their districts mixed up when they mentioned Allen, McManus, and Stamas. Allen and McManus used to live in Stupak’s old district.
No on Lennox He’s a big self-promoter who’s got ethics issues of his own. My family who lives in his area told me he’s facing charges of misusing county money. That’s not what we need.
I'm waiting and seeing what Benishek does if his campaign takes off.
I'll give him credit for winning Chippewa and Mackinac Counties as even that's not easy for a "troll", but those are the most Republican areas of the UP.
Allen's biggest problem is that while he represents parts of the 1st, he's from the 4th district.
Ok — IlI take your analysis. When is the primary there, i wonder. We need great Tea party and conservative support for the Republican victor.
“Stupaks’s Republican opponent in Michigan’s 1st District is Dr. Daniel Benishek. The surgeon saw traffic to his Facebook page grow quickly after the so-called Stupak Cave. He had about 3,000 “friends” earlier in the month. As of now, they number over 18,000.
See: Daniel Benishek Facebook page” From Spero News .com
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