| SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT: Reid, Obama and the 'Greedy Insurance Companies' |
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THE CHARGE:
On the floor this morning, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid attacked Sen. Jim DeMint, saying, “Just this week, the Senator from South Carolina said we just need to ‘get out of the way and allow the market to work.’ In other words, he says, let’s do nothing.” Reid continued, “Allowing the market to work is code for letting the greedy insurance companies” continue to deny care to sick and elderly Americans.
THE TRUTH:
Interesting that the Majority Leader mentions “Greedy Insurance Companies,” because in 2006 and 2007, Sen. Reid and then-Sen. Barack Obama joined those “Greedy Insurance Companies” in opposing market-driven, freedom reforms of our health care system. Reid and Obama defended the status quo and the insurance companies by voting NO on legislation that would have created a truly national, competitive market for private health insurance, and allowed small businesses to pool their insurance plans to reduce costs and offer improved plans to their employees.
Sen. DeMint is one of the most vocal and active advocates for real health care reform, a dedicated opponent of the status quo who has introduced major health care reform legislation every year since he came to the Senate. Just last month, he introduced the “Health Care Freedom Plan” to guarantee all Americans access to a health plan personally tailored to their needs, that they can afford, own, and keep, that government can never take over or take away.
THE VOTES:
Reid/Obama voted NO on Allowing Americans the Freedom to Purchase Health Insurance Across State Lines. H.R. 976 (110th Congress, 1st Session, Roll Call 305). The Senate rejected an effort to allow Americans to purchase individual health insurance across state lines. The amendment offered by Sen. DeMint (R-SC) failed on August 2, 2007 by a vote of 37-62.
Reid/Obama voted NO on Expanding Access to Small Business Health Plans. On Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Committee Amendment (110th Congress, Session 2, Roll Call 119). The Senate rejected an effort to allow for the expansion of health care access and reduced costs through the creation of small business health plans and through modernization of the health insurance marketplace on May 11, 2006 by a vote of 55-32.
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