Area congressmen react to health-reform stall

The fate of U.S. congressional health-care reform efforts are up in the air now that Republican Scott Brown has been elected in the Massachusetts special election to replace former Sen. Ted Kennedy, a Democrat, who passed away in August.

The Republican victory gives that party 41 seats in the U.S. Senate, which takes away the Democrats' filibuster-proof majority. Democrats now have the options of either scaling back and slowing down health-care reform, or attempting to get the House to pass the Senate-passed version of the legislation, which would negate the need for the bill to return to the Senate.

This second option is unacceptable to at least one area congressman, with U.S. Rep. Zack Space, D-Dover, saying that the Senate version of the bill is "œthe most egregious example of politics as usual." Space represents Ohio's 18th Congressional District, which includes the northern portion of Athens County.

Although only a simple majority is needed to pass legislation, increasingly in recent years filibuster, or the threat of it, is used to effectively kill bills. A filibuster is a form of obstruction in a legislature whereby one attempts to delay or entirely prevent a vote on a proposal by extending debate indefinitely.

Prior to 1980, filibuster or the threat of it was used rarely. Through that decade use of the option rose to 27 percent. From 2006 to 2008, filibuster or threat of its use rose to 70 percent of the time. And during the Obama administration, Republicans have threatened nearly every piece of major legislation with filibuster.

Space said that he doesn't support the Senate-passed version of health-care reform because it includes "big giveaways to states like Nebraska to shore up support and buy the votes needed for passage."

He said he didn't come to Washington for politics as usual.

"I absolutely refuse to support legislation that provides a windfall for insurance companies out of the pockets of my constituents," he said.

The standards for Space's support, he said, are that health-care reform be good for seniors, small businesses and middle-class families in the 18th District.

"In my opinion, the Senate bill is none of these things," Space said. "It will not provide customers with lower costs, it will place a tax on my district's working families, and it plays right into the hands of the insurance industry."

Space said that he has told House leadership that the Senate version is unacceptable. "I am outraged and disappointed that the leadership would even consider this plan," he said.

Republicans wasted no time going after Space for his position on the Senate version of health-care reform. This follows a developing playbook for Republicans, who hope to exploit the unpopularity of health-care reform in this year's mid-term elections.

"Space's newly found concerns are a blatant attempt to fool voters who see this for what it is "“ a flip-flop," said National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Tory Mazzola. "He voted for Pelosi's government-run health plan before he opposed it, and this is nothing more than a political calculation to save his plummeting career."

Space did vote in favor of the House version of the legislation, which was different from the Senate version on several points. One of the key differences is that the Senate version includes a tax on high-cost insurance plans. This provision is opposed by many House members who have listened to the concerns of unions, who see it as a direct attack on them.

State Sen. Bob Gibbs, R-Lakeville, who is running in the Republican primary for the opportunity to challenge Space, said Space's "flip-flop" is an example of more politics as usual.

"It's getting harder and harder to know what Zack Space really stands for," Gibbs said. "He claimed to care about universal medical coverage, despite its oppressive cost, but now wants to pretend he's against it and hide from his record once he saw the results in Massachusetts. That's not leadership."

Gibbs said he opposed "the Obama/[House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi/Space nationalized health-care plan" from the start.

"It's too costly at a time when government needs to tighten its belt, and would hurt our district "“ especially our seniors," he said.

After negotiating standards in the House version of the legislation, along with a group of other moderate "Blue Dog" Democrats, Space said in his letter to leadership that the Senate version does not meet the same standards. These include providing consumers with more choice and lower costs; helping small businesses afford coverage; and protecting rural hospitals and health-care providers from unfair reimbursement policies.

Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson, D-St. Clairsville, has not said explicitly whether or not he would support the Senate version, but has said he continues to work on the issue.

"I remain committed to quality, affordable health care that provides security for families and businesses, stops harmful insurance practices and lowers overall costs," he said. "I will continue to fight for health care whether we tackle it as one comprehensive bill, whether we take it on incrementally, or whether another legislative option is available."

Each approach, Wilson said, has its pluses and minuses. He added that he intends to work with House leadership to pursue the most sensible approach.

"As we work toward the goal of achieving true health-care reform, I hope that our process remains transparent and inclusive of a wide variety of views," Wilson said. "The bottom line is that I look forward to working with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to enact fiscally responsible reforms that provide greater affordability, accessibility and accountability to American families and businesses."

Wison does not yet have an announced Republican challenger in this year's election. Other Republicans running in the May 4 GOP primary for the chance to challenge Space are former Magistrate Judge Jeanette Moll of Zanesville, former state Agriculture Director Fred Dailey, Licking County businessman Patrick Carlisle and Newark businessman Beau Bromberg.