Rep. Jason Altmire (D - 4th District PA) will not support HCR

[chemenger]

Source: ABC local (WTAE) News

"I ran for Congress in large part because I believe we need to find a way to bring down the cost of health care. I also ran for Congress with a simple promise: I would do my best to represent my district and to give western Pennsylvania a voice in Washington, not the other way around.

"I regret that this year-long process of debating health care reform has resulted in a final product that I cannot support. The cost of inaction on health care is great, but it would be an even bigger mistake to pass a bill that could compound the problem of skyrocketing health care costs.

Simply moving money around within the existing system, rather than enacting real delivery system reform, might change who pays the bill, but it does not improve the quality of care or reduce costs for families, small businesses, or the federal government. It creates a system of winners and losers, rather than reforming the system in a way that lets everyone win. It is estimated that after passage of this bill, federal health care expenditures would likely increase above what they would under current law.

It has become clear that the vast majority of my constituents want me to oppose this bill. Particularly hard hit would be western Pennsylvania’s Medicare beneficiaries, which many experts believe would experience dramatic premium increases with enactment of this bill."

More on his website.


Read more: http://www.altmire.house.gov/

---

He's not my representative but I'll still call him a bastard. Worked for UPMC ... (from Wikipedia:

'In 1998, Altmire returned to Western Pennsylvania to work for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), a 20-hospital health care system with 45,000 employees and more than $7 billion in annual revenue. By 2005, he was the acting Vice President for Government Relations and Community Health Services. His duties at UPMC included oversight of UPMC’s Office of Charitable Giving, which has primary discretion over UPMC’s then 6 million in annual charitable donations. He also represented UPMC in discussions with government officials and local community organizations.'

[bbinacan]

1. Let me get this straight

He's a bastard because he is representing the views of his district? Ever heard of a representative form of government?

[kstewart33]

2. Good point. nt

[bbinacan]

6. Thanks

Many here seem to forget certain facts.

[Ed76638]

3. bastard...

[chemenger]

4. How many of his constituents are against HCR vs. those who are for it?

I'll stand my my opinion until I see actual numbers.

On edit: (from Wiki): "Altmire, a Blue Dog Democrat<9>, has a moderate to conservative voting record and has been identified as a centrist in Congress by non-partisan publications. On November 7, 2009, Altmire voted Nay on HR 3962<25>, the Health Care Reform Bill sponsored by his own party, cementing his status as a maverick Blue Dog."

[bbinacan]

7. I just happen to live in the area

If he voted for this, he'd be toast come November.

[Orrex]

11. So you're arguing against yourself, then?

First you argue that he's only representing his constituents, and then you argue that, if he voted for HCR, he'd be toast in November.


Well? Which is it? Is he voting to save his skin? Or is he voting for the interests of his constituents.

As a resident of the district, I can assure you that he's not doing the latter. And, since you yourself live in this region, you must be reaching the same conclusion.


Therefore, he's voting to save his own skin, in a cowardly and cynical political ploy.

[No Elephants]

17. Being for health care reform is not the same as being for this bill, as it seems to be shaping up.

[Orrex]

10. Fuck that. *I'M* in his district, and I know a ton of people in his district.

What Altmire is representing is his naked fear of being ousted by Melissa Hart next time around, and he figures that the best strategy is to play to the Right.

Hardly surprising.

[Orsino]

12. Well, he's at least representing what the television says are the views of his district.

But voting down minor reforms at the drooling behest of chanters of "socialism!" might be a different matter.

This was always going to be a close call, though.

[Orrex]

13. The view on the ground is much different from what's claimed on TV

Though my county foolishly went for Bush in 04 and McCain in 08, the thinking locally is that healthcare reform is needed desperately, even if the current bill isn't a Progressive's dream.

[qazplm]

14. then why not simply have a direct democracy

instead of a representative republic if reps are simply supposed to vote for what a majority of their constituents desire?

[No Elephants]

19. The Constitution did not provide for a direct democracy?

The U.S.A. is not Athens, where any citizen could go listen to the debates, then vote.

Though, between television and the Internet, we might be able to manage seomthing close.

So, will you take care of getting the Constitution amended?

[No Elephants]

16. How often do Reps claim to be going AGAINST the views of their districts?

[Toots]

20. I hope he is Primaried so we really know if those are the views of the Majority of his constituents.

If those truly are the views of his Constituents he would be a Republican...IMO

[Lone_Star_Dem]

5. Um, so is he special and gets to vote before everyone else? nt

[chemenger]

9. Fixed that.

Thanks for pointing that blatantly obvious error.

[lobodons]

8. No problem about running for Congress

He won't have to worry about running for Congress after Novemeber. No Problem.

[woo me with science]

15. Good for him. nt

[livetohike]

18. My m-i-l lives in his district (she's 83 years old)

I just sent Altmire an e-mail ten minutes ago. My husband's Aunt volunteers at a food bank in his district - she has done this for decades. She said she has never seen the need so great!

I know his district has many in the Teabagger party, so these are his constituents who are calling him so worried about cost. Altmire needs to take a look at his entire district. I hope he gets primaried.