Home
Archive
Newsletters
Video
Blogs
Discuss
About
Search
Donate
Advertise
  • AlterNetYour turn

Support AlterNet
Do you value the information you're getting from AlterNet? Please show your support with a tax-deductible donation.


Feedback
Tell us how we're doing.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Who Are the Dems Who Voted Against Health-Care Reform?

Posted by Adele Stan, AlterNet at 7:01 AM on November 9, 2009.


The House of Representatives passed an historic health-care reform bill with a two-vote margin. Here are the 39 Democrats who voted against reform.
adeleheadshot

Share and save this post:

      

      

Share on Facebook       

AlterNet Social Networks:
follow us on twitter
find us on Facebook

Got a tip for a post?:
Email us | Anonymous form

Get PEEK in your
mailbox!

 

Speaker Nancy Pelosi saw her historic health-care reform legislation pass the House of Representatives this weekend, eking out victory with a two-vote margin. But 39 Democrats voted against the legislation, despite months of wrangling to appease the concerns of members from more conservative districts.

Mike Ross, leader of the House Blue Dog Coalition, lobbed a "no" vote, after having held up legislation in committee before the summer recess. As a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Ross was able to marshal the seven Blue Dog members of his committee to sow the seeds of opposition to the bill. 

(As ProPublica reported, Ross not only enjoys the largess of mucho health sector dollars in the form of campaign contributions; he and his wife made a million-dollar killing in what appears to be a sweetheart deal with a large pharmacy chain. In Ross's congressional district, 22 percent of constituents report having no health insurance.)

Of the 39 naysayers, 31 hail from districts won by John McCain in the presidential race. Only one progressive vote against the legislation: Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, who continues to advocate for a single-payer health-care system.

Here are the 39, listed in alphabetical order. The New York Times has a nifty chart that ranks the members according to the margin of victory in their districts for either McCain or Obama in the 2008 presidential election. (Links go to their official Web sites, where you can leave them a message.)

Digg!

Tagged as: democrats, nancy pelosi, mike ross, healh-care reform, democrats against health

Adele M. Stan is AlterNet's Washington editor.


Public Option, Bye-Bye? Senate Reaches a Health-Care Deal
Senate negotiations said to have led to a final health-care reform bill with no public option.
Post by Adele Stan. December 9, 2009.
Will Someone Please Explain the Meaning of "War Bond" to Ben Nelson?
The Nebraska senator seems to think they're the equivalent of free money. They're not.
Post by Steve Benen. December 9, 2009.
Congress Is Rushing to Pass Iran Sanctions That No One Thinks Will Work
Ordinarily, expeditions like these are reserved for non-controversial bills. Is this an attempt to slip one past the American people?
Post by Matthew Duss. December 9, 2009.
Advertisement
You've chosen to turn comments off for the entire site. Would you like to turn them back on?