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Childers, whose decision was not known until about 3 p.m. Thursday, has been under strong pressure from conservative constituent groups to vote against it and from Democratic House leaders to support it.
“After months of debate, I still don’t believe we’ve gotten it right,” he said shortly after final details of the plan were released.
Earlier in the day, the former Prentiss County chancery clerk telegraphed his decision when he voted against setting aside a House resolution that would have required an up-or-down tally on the Senate health bill.
The resolution passed 222-203 and halted a Republican effort to block Democrats’ preferred method for getting a reform measure through the chamber.
Thursday, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office reported that an emerging compromise on health care between House and Senate Democrats would cost $940 billion over the next decade and expand insurance coverage to an additional 32 million Americans.
CBO also said that new revenue in the package, combined with program cut savings, would outpace the cost of coverage and reduce the federal deficit by $138 billion over the next 10 years.
In his statement, Childers said he knows his decision is controversial. “Some disagree with this decision, and I respect that.
“This has always been about doing what’s best for the people north Mississippi. Their thoughts and concerns have been fundamental to my decision-making and I take them to heart.”
Childers, who is in his first full term and faces a tough re-election fight, also said he decided to vote against the health care bill because of its “large price tag” and lack of tough language to prohibit federal funding of abortion.
At issue is whether the Senate bill is explicit enough in its restrictions on federal funds for abortions. Republicans say it isn’t, pointing for example to a section of the bill that would provide funds to community health centers that can provide abortions.
Still, Childers says he wants “effective, fiscally responsible health care reform” and will continue to work for it.
Media reports say the House health care vote could come as early as Sunday. Obama put off a foreign trip until June so that he could continue lobbying Congress for passage.
Childers’ “no” vote Thursday was against setting aside a resolution by Democrat-turned-Republican Rep. Parker Griffith of Alabama that would have prevented Democrats from using a “deem and pass” strategy to approve the Senate measure.
Under this scenario, the House would “deem” the Senate bill passed when the chamber approves the rule governing debate for health care, and then would vote on a package of “fixes” to the Senate bill negotiated between the two chambers.
Voting with Childers against the resolution were Mississippi congressmen Gene Taylor, D-Bay St. Louis, and Gregg Harper, R-Brandon.
Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Bolton, voted with the majority.
Contact Patsy Brumfield at (662) 678-1596 or patsy.brumfield@djournal.com.
Quoting from JOHN 3:10-11: "And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise."
I too, know Travis and I have worked side by side with him and went door to door asking people who are making $7.25 an hour and have to work two or three part-time jobs just to put a roof over their heads and food on the table. These people cannot afford health insurance--they cannot afford to see a doctor. Do we still ask them to vote for Travis? Do we still ask them to subsidize Travis's insurance out of their meager earnings. Travis and other Federal employees participate in a public option, but don't want a public option for their constituents. How can we provide a public option for them, but not for the "least of these?"
Moral of the story- If you let me prepay, anything can be affordable, after the cost resets, it is no longer affordable and I start owing more than I have to work with. It looks like I'm paying less, but in reality I am paying more.
I am a fiscal conservative though and not a fool.
Taxpayer's money is being spent on healthcare. That money is not being spent wisely and everyone knows it. The CBO scored the legislation saving the government $138 billion in 10 years, and trillions of dollars over the next 10 years.
You have the CBO scoring showing the savings, and the CBO saying without something being done to bend the cost curve - medicare will be broke by 2015. So Childers is offered a vote on saving Medicare and saving the government trillions - and he decides to vote "no".
Childers' abortion arguement is as stupid. Everyone knows that the "Hyde amendment" was not altered in the legislation. The "Hyde amendment" does not allow taxpayer money to be spent on providing abortions. Childers' using this "strawman" rewards those in the media (AFA types) to advocate ignorance. He is their fool.