Research Briefing

5 Flip-Flopping Dems Cast A Career-Ending Vote Tonight

AFTER THESE 5 DEMS VOTED AGAINST GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE IN NOVEMBER …

REP. JOHN BOCCIERI (D-OH): Voted Against Pelosi’s Bill In November, Saying It’s Wrong “Prescription” For Health Care Reform. “I am disappointed the House bill sadly does not go far enough to reduce the costs … it is clear to me that too many of my constituents share my concern about the cost of this bill and how we pay for it … this bill does not go far enough to secure my vote.” (H.R. 3962, Roll Call Vote #887; Approved 220-215; D 219-39; R 1-176; Rep. John Boccieri, “Boccieri Agrees With Diagnosis, But Not The Prescription,” Press Release, 11/7/09)

REP. ALLEN BOYD (D-FL): Voted Against Pelosi’s Bill In November, Saying It “Does Little To Reduce The Escalating Cost Of Healthcare Services.” “[I]t simply falls short when it comes to lowering healthcare costs for North Florida families and businesses … The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has indicated that the House bill does little to reduce the escalating cost of healthcare services, meaning that healthcare costs will continue to rise at unsustainable rates and insurance premiums will continue to plague hardworking Americans.” (H.R. 3962, Roll Call Vote #887; Approved 220-215; D 219-39; R 1-176; Rep. Allen Boyd, “Boyd Calls For Fiscally Responsible Healthcare Bill,” Press Release, 11/7/09)

REP. SUZANNE KOSMAS (D-FL): Voted Against Pelosi’s Bill In November, Saying That It Doesn’t “Slow The Growth Of Health Care Costs.” “I believe that it does not do enough to slow the growth of health care costs and spending on care. Therefore … I have decided that I cannot support the legislation.” (H.R. 3962, Roll Call Vote #887; Approved 220-215; D 219-39; R 1-176, 11/7/09; Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, “Statement On Decision To Vote Against House Health Care Reform Bill,” Press Release, 11/7/09)

REP. BETSY MARKEY (D-CO): Voted Against Pelosi’s Bill In November, Saying “It Simply Does Not Do Enough To Cut The Health Care Costs That Are Crushing Our Businesses And Families.” “After carefully reviewing this legislation and hearing from thousands of Coloradans across my district, I could not support this bill … it simply does not do enough to cut the health care costs that are crushing our businesses and families.” (H.R. 3962, Roll Call Vote #887; Approved 220-215; D 219-39; R 1-176, 11/7/09; Rep. Betsy Markey, “Markey Statement On House Health Care Bill,” Press Release, 11/7/09)

REP. SCOTT MURPHY (D-NY): Voted Against Pelosi’s Bill In November, Saying It Bill Does Not Address “Skyrocketing Costs.” “I have consistently said that any bill that Congress passes must curb costs and keep health care affordable in the long term. During these difficult economic times, an unacceptably high price tag will stress our already overstretched federal budget and place even more burdens on our hard working individuals, families and small businesses.” (H.R. 3962, Roll Call Vote #887; Approved 220-215; D 219-39; R 1-176, 11/7/09; Rep. Scott Murphy, “Statement On Health Care Reform,” Press Release, 11/7/09)

THEY FLIPPED AND VOTED FOR IT TONIGHT …

Reps. Boccieri, Boyd, Kosmas, Markey, And Murphy All Voted For Senate Dems’ Bill Tonight. (H.R. 3590, Roll Call Vote #165, Approved 219-212; D 219-34; R 0-178, 3/21/10)

Senate Dems’ Bill Would Raise Premiums For Americans Purchasing Insurance Individually. “CBO and JCT estimate that the average premium per person covered (including dependents) for new nongroup policies would be about 10 percent to 13 percent higher in 2016 than the average premium for nongroup coverage in that same year under current law.” (Douglas W. Elmendorf, Letter To Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN), 11/30/09)

Obama's Tax On Health Insurance Would Hit Small Business Hardest. “Small employers would also probably be hit by the taxes ... small businesses tend to pay more for their insurance than bigger employers that can negotiate better premiums ... About 14 percent of small employers, counted as those with fewer than 500 workers, now offer policies that would be subject to the excise tax ... ‘That is a very heavy hammer on the cost of your premiums,’ said Donna Marshall, the executive director of the Colorado Business Group on Health ... ‘You don't want to cause a chilling effect on the employers who are trying to do the right thing.’” (Reed Abelson, "A Proposed Tax On The Cadillac Insurance Plans May Also Hit The Chevys," The New York Times, 9/20/09)

DOING EXACTLY WHAT REP. MARJORIE MARGOLIES-MEZVINSKY (D-PA) DID IN 1993

In 1993, Freshman Rep. Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky (D-PA) Was The Deciding Vote For Clinton’s Energy Tax And Lost Her Seat Over It. “Promising to oppose new tax hikes and fight to hold down federal spending, Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky came to Congress on the back of President Clinton's coattails. Then she became the margin of victory for Clinton's 1993 budget... As she cast her vote, Republicans salivated at the opportunity to defeat her -- filling the chamber with shouts of, ‘Goodbye Marjorie.’ She was defeated in the next election.” (Johanna Neuman, “Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky Haunts Democrats As Obama Stumps To Push Healthcare Over Finish Line,” The Los Angeles Times’ “Top of the Ticket” Blog, 3/15/10)

She Voted Against It The First Time, But Voted For It Months Later, Under Immense Pressure. “She voted against the Clinton plan, with its broad BTU tax, when it first came before the House in May. But when the roll was called Aug. 5 on the final package, which involved a 4.3 cents-per-gallon gasoline tax increase instead of the big Btu tax, Ms. Margolies-Mezvinsky cast the vote that put Democrats over the top, 218-216 … The flip-flop ruffled feathers back home. ‘There were a lot of angry people,’ Ms. Margolies-Mezvinsky conceded …” (Thomas Galvin, “Lawmaker’s Tax Flip-Flop Angers Some,” The Dallas Morning News, 9/12/93)

Margolies-Mezvinsky’s Constituents Felt Betrayed, Accused Her Of Bowing To “Partisan Pressures.” “‘She’s a traitor to her constituents,’ Renninger said. ‘She said one thing and did another and gave an excuse. That’s what we’ve got enough of - excuses.’ Margolies-Mezvinsky voted against the budget proposal last spring and consistently said she wouldn’t be swayed by partisan pressures. She said last week she knew changing her mind would bring wrath from constituents. Manufacturer John Weber, 38, of Norristown, counted himself as one of those angry constituents. ‘She had the opportunity to shine, but she rode the party line,’ Weber said …” (“Lawmaker’s Vote Stirs Up Hornet’s Nets,” The Associated Press, 8/8/93)