Punchline: Reps in swing districts can either vote with their constituents or jump off a cliff. Why is that a difficult decision?
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Excerpted from WSJ: Swing Districts Oppose Health Reform, Mar 15, 2010
Democratic leaders cite national polls that show support for individual provisions of the bill as a reason to pass this reform. Yet vulnerable politicians should be warned: Responses to questions about individual benefits, particularly when removed from a cost context, are different from those on the whole bill.
Voters in key congressional districts are clear in their opposition to the proposed health-care reform.
That’s one of the findings of a survey that will be released today by the Polling Company on behalf of Independent Women’s Voice. The survey consisted of 1,200 registered voters in 35 districts represented by members who could determine the outcome of the health-care debate.
The survey shows astonishing intensity and sharp opposition to reform, far more than national polls reflect.
- For 82% , the heath-care bill is either the top or one of the top three issues for deciding whom to support for Congress next November.
- 60% want Congress to start from scratch on a bipartisan health-care reform proposal or stop working on it this year.
- Majorities say the legislation will make them and their loved ones, the economy and the U.S. health-care system worse off.
- 70% would vote against a House member who votes for the Senate health-care bill with its special interest provisions.
- 75% disagree that the federal government should mandate that everyone buy a government-approved insurance plan
- 81% say any reform should focus first on reducing costs.
- 75% agree that Americans have the right to choose not to participate in any health-care system or plan without a penalty or fine.
- 60% of the voters surveyed will vote for a candidate who opposes the current legislation and wants to start over.
- Over 1/3 of respondents say they will actively work against a candidate who votes the wrong way or for the candidate who votes the right way.
That translates into specific concerns with the Senate legislation—and none of these objections would be addressed by the proposed fixes.
Over 70%—indeed in several districts over 80%—of respondents, across party lines, said that the following information made them less supportive:
- mandates that individuals purchase insurance or face penalties;
- cuts Medicare Advantage;
- will force potentially millions to lose existing coverage;
- will cost an estimated $2.3 trillion over its first 10 years; and it will grant unprecedented new powers to the Health and Human Services secretary.
These are the constituents of the members whose votes will matter most this week. Perhaps, if this republic is still the people’s, those members should heed those they claim to represent.
Full article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704416904575121541779736742.html?mod=djemEditorialPage_h
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