House’s vote rivaled civil rights passage [The Pueblo Chieftain, Colo.]

Mar. 24--Sunday night's historic House vote on health care reform reminded Colorado College Professor Bob Loevy of June 10, 1964, when he stood on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol, watching news reporters chart the votes for the national television audience as senators cast votes to kill the filibuster blocking the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

"I've waited 46 years to see a piece of legislation big enough to catch the nation's attention like that one, but this vote on health care is just as big," Loevy said Sunday night. "Back then, the 11 Southern states were voting as a block against the civil rights legislation, hoping to stop it. Today, the political divide is between Democrats against Republicans. Whether Democrats will be punished for this vote in November probably will depend on the popularity of President (Barack) Obama at the time."

Colorado Republican Party Chairman Dick Wadhams predictably called the vote a "suicide vote" for Democrats. "They've deluded themselves into thinking that voters will embrace this bill because they are arrogant enough to think that voters won't figure it out," Wadhams said. "As a Republican, I'm delighted to see them vote for it. As an American, I fear for the future of my country. This will destroy our health care system and drive us into massive debt."

Former U.S. Rep. Ray Kogovsek, a Pueblo Democrat and now a lobbyist, saw it differently. He'd spent the day watching the televised House debate.

"When the public starts to understand the important differences this is going to make in their health care this year and for years to come, they will be grateful," he said. "I listened to the debate today and it was the health insurance industry that was on trial. Not the doctors, not the hospitals, but the health insurance industry. And it lost. The bill isn't perfect, but it's a good start."

Nick Gradisar, a local lawyer and Democratic activist, called the vote "monumental."

"President Obama campaigned on delivering health care reform, and he's doing it," Gradisar said. "The bill doesn't have everything I'd like to see, but it's a first step toward getting this situation under control and letting us catch up to the rest of the world. Americans spend twice as much on health care as any other country and only get half as much."

Former state House Speaker Lola Spradley, a Republican and the only woman to serve in that post, watched the debate from her La Veta home and called Sunday night's vote "sad for America."

"Congress did not listen to the American people today," Spradley said. "The public doesn't want this bill and it will be devastating to the Constitution and the American way of life."

U.S. Rep. John Salazar, the Democrat who represents Pueblo and the 3rd District, presided over portions of Sunday's debate and voted for the health care legislation. He credited the legislation with many benefits, including preventing insurance companies from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions, dropping coverage once a person becomes ill, and capping their total medical expenses in any one year.

"Because of today's vote, our families and friends, our children and our grandchildren won't have to suffer without health coverage or at the hands of a broken insurance system," Salazar said in a statement after the vote.

State Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Cortez, and one of two Republican challengers to Salazar, blasted the far-reaching legislation as a "tangled mess" of mandates, taxes and subsidies that would further undermine individual liberty and responsibility. He dismissed last week's Congressional Budget Office report that the legislation would reduce the federal deficit in the next decade, saying it would cost $2.5 trillion instead.

"With this vote, a little piece of America will die," he said in a statement Sunday.

State Sen. Abel Tapia, a Pueblo Democrat who is term-limited this year, said supporters have put their political futures on the line in supporting the legislation.

"I know the public has been very frustrated with the lack of control they have over their health insurance rates," he said. "This issue has been so politicized that I don't know if the public fully understands it or not. But backing up and starting over is not an option. It would be years before anyone tried health care reform again. In politics, if you're going to be blamed for supporting something, you might as well push ahead if believe you'll get some good results."

Jim Koncilja, another active Pueblo Democrat, said he was delighted at the vote.

"It's about time a country of our stature is finally starting to provide health care for all Americans," he said. "It's a proud moment for the Democratic Party."

ALONG PARTY LINES

Here's how Colorado's House members voted Sunday on the health care reform bill:

--Democrats: All voting 'Yes' -- Diana DeGette, Betsy Markey, Ed Perlmutter, Jared Polis, John Salazar.

--Republicans: All voting 'No' -- Mike Coffman, Doug Lamborn.

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