Foster says he'll vote for health care bill
U.S. Rep. Bill Foster of Batavia will vote in support of health care reform, he announced Sunday.
"It eliminates pre-existing conditions, protects and strengthens Medicare and will significantly reduce the deficit by $1.3 trillion over 20 years," Foster said just hours before an expected vote in the U.S. House. He was the final suburban Democrat to announce his position on the bill, joining Rep. Melissa Bean of Barrington, who announced her support Saturday.
All suburban Republicans are expected to vote against the measure.
Foster said as a former owner of a small business he is pleased to see that the bill "will allow small businesses to thrive and expand without facing crippling health care costs."
"While the Senate bill itself is not perfect, many important improvements have been made so that the overall package is one I can support."
Constituents have argued for and against the legislation, but "almost everyone agrees that our health insurance system is broken," said Foster.
Democrats need 216 votes to pass the legislation, lauded as visionary and vital by supporters and overreaching and cripplingly costly by opponents.
Bean was joined Saturday by Democratic Rep. Debbie Halvorson of south suburban Crete, who had also been undecided. Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Evanston had already pledged her support.
Suburban Republicans remain staunchly opposed. They include Reps. Peter Roskam of Wheaton, Judy Biggert of Hinsdale, Mark Kirk of Highland Park, who is running for U.S. Senate, and Don Manzullo of the Rockford area.
With zero GOP support for the plan, undecided House Democrats were the focus of intense lobbying Saturday and Sunday. The landmark law would be the largest expansion of social programs in the United States since Medicare was enacted more than 50 years ago. Among its goals is to give health insurance to 32 million uninsured people, ban insurance companies from denying coverage due to bad health, and create insurances pools that small businesses could access in order to get lower rates.
<p class="factboxheadblack">How they're voting</p>
<p class="News">Suburban lawmakers have announced how they'll vote on health care reform. A vote in the U.S. House is expected Sunday. </p>
<p class="breakhead">Democrats:</p>
<p class="News">Melissa Bean of Barrington: Yes</p>
<p class="News">Bill Foster of Batavia: Yes</p>
<p class="News">Debbie Halvorsen of Crete: Yes</p>
<p class="News">Jan Schakowsky of Evanston: Yes</p>
<p class="breakhead">Republicans:</p>
<p class="News">Mark Kirk of Highland Park: No</p>
<p class="News">Peter Roskam of Wheaton: No</p>
<p class="News">Judy Biggert of Hinsdale: No</p>
<p class="News">Don Manzullo of the Rockford area: No</p>