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April 02, 2010
U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge explains his health care vote
Andrew Barksdale
Fayetteville Observer
U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge says his hesitation over the health care bill that he ultimately supported came down to a combination of soul-searching and feedback from constituents.
"You've got to do both," said the Democrat from Lillington. "You want to know how the people you represent feel, but you also want to know what's in the final piece of legislation."
In an interview March 30, Etheridge said he heard from thousands of people on both sides of the bill. His district office in Raleigh was the scene of competing demonstrations for and against health reform as the debate raged. He announced his support just days before the vote.
"A lot of things people were fearful of, that they were hollering about, were not in the bill in the end," he said. "You have to come out on the end, as I did, which is better: Doing nothing... or do you start doing something?"
Etheridge, who is seeking re-election in District 2, was the lone congressman representing the Fayetteville area who voted for the massive health care reform bill March 21.
U.S. Reps. Mike McIntyre of Lumberton and Larry Kissell of Biscoe, both Democrats, voted no.
The bill passed the Democrat-controlled House on a 219-212 vote. Republicans were unanimous in opposition.
Etheridge said he supported the bill because the most important provisions were included: coverage for people with pre-existing conditions - many of whom he heard from - and cutting the deficit. He said it also closes the so-called doughnut hole for Medicare recipients in prescription drugs. The hole is the difference of the initial coverage limit and the catastrophic coverage threshold.
Etheridge said he wants to see more measures introduced in the future to cut health care costs, and he called some of the coverage for preventive care in the reform bill a good start.
The most recent reporting cycle, at the end of last year, showed Etheridge has more than $1 million in his campaign war chest.
He has four opponents this year. Three are running for the Republican nomination: Todd Gailas of Morrisville, who owns a car dealership; Renee Ellmers of Dunn, a nurse; and Frank Deatrich of Louisburg, a retired Marine and a horse breeder. Tom Rose of Benson is running as a Libertarian. |
