Melissa Bean will vote in favor of health care reform proposal

U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean Saturday vowed to vote yes on health care reform, adding another toward the 216 votes needed to pass legislation lauded as visionary and vital by supporters and over-reaching and cripplingly costly by opponents.

On the eve of an expected House vote on the package, the Barrington Democrat announced she would support it.

"This bill is historic in that it saves both lives and taxpayers' money, which is something we don't get to do everyday," Bean said. "It's the most significant health care legislation since Medicare, and something everyone can be proud of."

Bean was joined Saturday by Democratic Rep. Debbie Halvorson of south suburban Crete, who had also been undecided. Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Evanston was already in the yes column, yet several fellow Illinois Democrats remained on the fence, including Bill Foster of Batavia.

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 inside the walls of the Capitol, as angry tea party demonstrators streamed outside.

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.

Bean's decision comes after days of indecision and a sizable demonstration by both sides at her suburban office. It also came on the same day the Democratic Party decided against using a controversial measure called 'deem and pass' to get the package through Congress.

Before fully getting on board, Bean said she had a responsibility to read the lengthy legislation and didn't receive the language until Thursday afternoon.

She was also waiting for an analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, which now estimates the bill will yield federal deficit reduction of $1.3 trillion over 20 years.

"For moderates like myself who are fiscally conservative, this is a win," Bean said. "This is an even better bill in terms of cost containment."

Foster, meanwhile, was still poring over the bill in order to come up with an evaluation and decision, a spokesman said.

"He's still chugging away ... and will make up his mind once he's done," said spokeswoman Shannon O'Brien.

Bean's Republican challenger in the November election, Joe Walsh of Winnetka, has been staunchly opposed to the bill for months.

He joined about 200 other opponents Saturday afternoon in another rally against the measure outside Bean's Schaumburg office on Woodfield Drive.

"She has chosen to vote for her party and not her district, and that's extremely disappointing to hear," Walsh said.

Walsh disputes figures showing the bill will reduce the deficit by $1.3 trillion, saying there hasn't been a government program in history that came in under budget.

In deciding in favor of the legislation, Bean also said she believes the package will address key concerns expressed by families and small businesses.

She said the legislation will provide "health care security" to families who already have insurance by stopping insurance companies from "denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions, dropping coverage when families need it most or instituting lifetime caps that drive Americans to bankruptcy."

Bean cited a recent report by the Illinois Department of Insurance, which stated Illinois has the most rescissions in the nation - meaning a health insurer drops someone from medical coverage.

She said small businesses, which now pay more than larger companies for health care benefits, will be able to pool together to gain access to lower rates provided to larger groups.

She also said the plan "preserves and expands benefits while reducing drug costs" for senior citizens who rely on the Medicare system.

Finally, Bean said, "for 31,500 Americans without insurance in the 8th District, this bill finally provides access to affordable coverage choices."

Daily Herald wire services contributed to this report.

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<h2>Official statement</h2>

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<li><a href="/story/?id=367476">Press release on Bean's decision</a></li>

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