Health Bill Passes, Kratovil Votes No
Posted by John Lang on November 7, 2009 · 10 Comments
With Rep. Frank Kratovil, D-Md., joining Republicans and most of the Blue Dog Democrats to vote no, the House health care reform bill passed Saturday on the narrow margin of 220 to 215.
Kratovil is one of 39 Democrats and 176 Republicans who voted against the measure. Only one Republican voted with 219 Democrats to pass the bill.
As The Washington Post pointed out in its Sunday edition, Kratovil has collected $105,706 from the health care industry already this year. The Post also noted that 11.1 percent of the people in Kratovil’s 1st Congressional District, which includes all of the Eastern Shore, do not have any health insurance. That’s just over one person in 10 here who are uninsured.
Congressman Kratovil
The congressman, though, said in a press release Friday that his major concern was “that this bill does not do enough to end the long-term cost curve and that it lacks adequate provisions to reduce the deficit and protect small businesses.”
So, Kratovil said, he would vote against the bill.
At the same time, Kratovil’s website posted a statement from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce praising him for opposing H.R. 3962. It said, “We look forward to continuing to work with Congressman Frank Kratovil as this difficult but important process continues to move forward.”
Kratovil is a member of the House “Blue Dog” coalition, a group of 52 conservative Democrats who have been critical of the cost of their own party’s health care reform.
According to a study by the non-profit Center for Public Integrity, the Blue Dogs have been collecting campaign funds from the health industry at much greater rates than other members of their party.
Kratovil, according to the Center, had banked some $105,000 from the health sector as of the end of August. That total includes a reported $15,500 from health insurance companies, $18,400 from pharmaceutical firms, $41,706 from health professionals, $13,000 from hospitals and $16,250 from nursing homes.
Kratovil ranks far down the list of Blue Dogs filling campaign coffers from health industry contributions. At the top of the list, Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D., pulled in $1.4 million.
But Kratovil is still barely midway into his first term.
The congressman’s press aide declined to comment on the Center’s tally of Kratovil’s health contributions, which has been public for two months, saying he’d have to see it first. The Spy emailed him a copy. Two days later, Kratovil’s office had not yet responded.
Kratovil was one of only two members out of the state’s eight-district delegation to vote against health reform. The other was Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, a Republican, who represents far western Maryland, where 10.6 percent of his constituents have no insurance.
However they voted, all members of Congress are entitled to heavily subsidized health care. Congress’ own health plan pays for routine expences like office visits and vaccinations — so premiums are high, more than $13,000 a year for a family. But taxpayers pay 69 percent of those premiums. Of course taxpayers also pay 100 percent of their $174,000 annual salaries.
In addition, every member of Congress may be seen by the office of the attending physician in the U.S. Capital if they have health problems while in Washington. If necessary, they can also go to Walter Reed Army Hospital or Bethesda Naval Hospital for further treatment, fully covered.
What a disappointment. I thought Kratovil was representing us.
To not be perceived as a hypocrite, I would respectfully suggest Rep. Kratovil use his vote time as an opportunity to announce that he is canceling his own Congressional “government health care” coverage to be consistent with what the American public (and his voters under 65) are eligible to receive. Because, you know, to do anything less may be considered a bit hypocritical of him, don’t you think?
I of course expect the same of his Republican colleagues.
Kratovil is right to oppose this version of the healthcare reform legislation. Even Nancy Pelosi admitted last week that the bill–as written now–is unfair to rural interests and needs to be strengthened. The only way to preserve the leverage to make the bill better is to hold out for changes. This is a multi-stage process. Further, the House is acting too fast–at the very moment the Senate is slowing down. It makes no sense to vote for a lot of the problems with the House bill, when in the final say, it will probably be something more like the Senate bill which becomes law.
Dear Congressman Kratovil, thank you for fairly representing the majority of first district voters who do not want this bill to pass.
By voting against the health-insurance reform bill, Mr. Kratovil handed Maryland’s First District back to the GOP.
Guess he won’t need my campaign contributions in the future. Good thing – my health care premiums are going through the roof. Let’s see – my new Social Security check just about covers my premiums – hope Medicare is there when I need it.
I see Mr. Lang has updated his story to include details of what Rep. Kratovil receives as his own health care coverage. One item that he forgot to include is that no member of Congress can be denied health insurance coverage due to a pre-existing condition.
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You might want to explain this one, Rocky.
This is a GOP’her district that Mr. K won by tagging along on Obama’s coattails and securing a load of indie and moderate GOP’her votes. IF this were the only issue to define the ‘10 election, then maybe this is his best chance at beating arch-conservative Andy Harris.
The Dems have a bad habit of throwing the baby out with the bath water. Is this a prime example, if they turn their backs on a mderate and hand the seat to someone who really doesn’t anywhere near represent their values?
In any case, it’s unfortunate that Mr. K didn’t grasp the moment that this is just the first venture into a true reform of our unwieldy and malfunctioning healthcare system. The fact is… the bill passed the house without his vote.
I agree with Warrior Bob.
I watched the vote and there was a slew of Dems that made the No Vote dash after the Yeahs went past 215. I think they got a free pass to do so. His record overall seems to be middle of the road. A dangerous place.
I wonder how many of the people angry with Congressman Kratovil even know what he voted against. The bill did nothing to reduce health care cost, it will be devastating for the small business owner and it only adds a few million of 40 the million uninsured to the rolls of the insured. The bill also contained an amendment that reduces reproductive rights and it adds to the balloning deficit. The US is in the throws of a deep decline, economically and culturally because of nonsensical, emotional politics and we need to reject the extremes of the fringe. Health care reform in name only is no more progressive than religious dogma or unjustified invasions. It’s stupid !