Here’s how Montana’s U.S. delegation reacted (through press releases) to the House passing health care reform legislation Sunday night:
U.S. Sen. Max Baucus: “Today is a historic day for our state and our nation. After nearly a century of attempts and close to two years of effort, we have finally passed meaningful health care reform. Tonight, a parent in Glasgow can sleep well knowing insurance companies won’t be able to deny their child coverage, or rip it away when they need it most. Tonight, a senior in Sidney can sleep well knowing that soon they won’t have to choose between food or prescription drugs. Tonight, a small business owner in Hamilton can sleep well knowing that providing well deserved benefits for hard-working employees won’t decimate their bottom line. It is a new day in America. A day that Presidents from Roosevelt to Clinton had worked to accomplish. A day that families saddled with medical debt have dreamed would happen. Working together we have been able to achieve health care reform to help put our fiscal house in order and provide a cornerstone for generations to build on.”
“Now, we have one more step in the process. A step to make a strong bill even stronger. A step to help cut costs for the state governments across the nation and help reduce the deficit. And I look forward to working with my colleagues to put a capstone on this historic achievement and make this bill even better for families, individuals and small businesses in Montana and across the nation.”
Congressman Denny Rehberg: “Today, I joined Republicans and Democrats alike in voting with the majority of Americans who believe that while doing nothing isn’t an option, doing the wrong thing is far worse. The House of Representatives today failed to heed the public outcry against this bill. I support true reform that would lower the cost of health care. Merely shifting the cost from the patient to the taxpayer isn’t a solution; they’re the same person.”
U.S. Sen Jon Tester: “I join thousands of Montanans and millions of Americans in thanking the House for rounding the final curve and sending this long-overdue legislation to the home stretch.
“Today’s vote was a bold ‘yes’ to reforming our broken health insurance system, controlling health care costs and making Medicare stronger—all while cutting the national deficit by more than a trillion dollars.
“Montana families, small businesses and most importantly, our kids and grandkids, can’t afford Congress doing nothing. Doing nothing to fix health insurance and control costs has broken too many families.”