For the entire statement from Rep. Brian Baird, click here.
U.S. Rep. Brian Baird, D-Vancouver, said it took him until 10:30 a.m. Sunday to decide how to vote on the massive health care bill.
He voted in favor of the bill and said, “while not perfect … it is still vastly better than what we have right now, and therefore it warrants support.
“I went in full eyes open and objective.”
In his statement Sunday morning, he said:
“The challenge before us now is this: the status quo cannot be sustained. It will continue to allow health care costs to rise more rapidly than people can afford, it will leave insured Americans facing the loss of insurance if they get sick or lose their jobs, it will leave countless small businesses unable to afford insurance for their workers, it will leave 50 million Americans without health insurance, and it will lead to the bankruptcy of the nation as health care entitlement costs continue to grow.”
Baird said he did his homework.
He said he got key answers over the weekend from Peter Orszag, director of the Office of Management and Budget. He said the 20-minute conversation allowed him to get “point by point” information on the bill.
Asked what was the single most important issue, Baird said he wanted to eliminate the possibility of people “denied care because of pre-existing conditions.”
“I am quite certain that somewhere in America within hours of the signing of this legislation, families will learn about the serious illness of a loved one. Thanks to this legislation, that child will get the health care that they need. At the end of the day, that’s what this is about.”
Baird continued: “People know in their guts that this (denying coverage) is a fundamental wrong and they know this bill will right that wrong.”
Baird is a proponent of allowing 72 hours to read a bill before lawmakers vote on it. And he said if 72 hours had not been allowed, “I would have voted no on principle.”
He said he was buoyed that the bill was posted on the Internet three days before the Sunday vote.
The congressman said he did not have a count, but that his office received thousands of calls on the bill.
“I was here until 7 o’clock last night; the phone never stopped ringing,” he said. “The bulk of the calls were from outside the district. Most of those were negative. But the clear majority from inside the district were positive, asking us to vote yes.”
He said many persons came to his office and most were courteous and thoughtful. He added some acted hateful.
About 90 minutes before the bill passed, Baird, in a telephone interview, said, “It a very, very exciting day here in the Capitol.”
Asked about the abortion-funding prohibition in the bill, Baird said, “I’m pro choice and actually believe it was unfortunate that people inserted that issue into the matter of health care reform. I personally would rather have women have access to coverage for abortion to a greater degree.”
Baird also took a swipe at those who opposed the bill.
“Sadly, my colleagues on the Republican side had six years in which they were in the majority in the House and Senate and had a Republican president and they did nothing about this.”
Baird, who represents the 3rd Congressional District that includes Clark County, has announced he will not run for re-election this year.
