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NSBNEWS.net bloggers Peter Mallory (Home page) and Palmer Wilson (Opinion page) react to Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas' vote that helped secure passage of President Obama's health-care plan.Vote in our InstaPoll on the Home page on the Obama health-care plan.
WAHINGTON, DC -- Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach (FL-24), voted with the majority of Democrats as promised in favor of President Obama's health-care plan in the historic Sunday vote that included no Republicans and 21 other Democrats saying no as well.
Still, Kosmas, in her first term, justified her vote.
"With the passage of this fiscally responsible health care reform legislation, we have taken a significant step towards reducing the deficit, ending unfair insurance practices, lowering health care costs, and improving coverage for Central Florida's families, seniors and small businesses," Kosmas said in a written statement released by her press spokesman, Marc Goldberg after the House vote.
Kosmas added: "I have made a commitment to families and businesses in Florida's 24th District to be a voice for fiscally responsible, common-sense solutions and positive change for our children and their children.
Despite the expected minimum $960 billion price tag over the next decade to support Obama's nationalized health care, Kosmas said, "This bill represents those priorities, and I am proud to have helped make fiscally responsible health care reform a reality."
The Senate-passed bill was secured by the House with a 219-212 vote, three more votes than what was needed to make irt happen. Republicans voted unanimously against it as did 34 Democrats.
President Obama is expected to sign the legislation into law on Tuesday.
According to a story posted on the Orlando Sentinel's Web site, the legislation would "extend coverage to 32 million Americans who lack it, ban insurers from denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions and cut deficits by an estimated $138 billion over a decade.
The Sentinel story added, "If realized, the expansion of coverage would include 95 percent of all eligible individuals under age 65. For the first time, most Americans would be required to purchase insurance, and face penalties if they refused. Much of the money in the bill would be devoted to subsidies to help families at incomes of up to $88,000 a year pay their premiums."