Health Care Passes!

For 18 years, Ken Calvert has put party politics before the people of this district. Today he had a chance to redeem himself by voting for the landmark health insurance reform bill that would directly help hundreds of thousands of people in the 44th. But Ken Calvert, once again putting his personal and party interests first, voted against it.

Because of the vote today:

• 107,000 residents of the 44th who had no access to health care have access
• 19,600 residents with pre-existing conditions can obtain coverage
• 81,000 young adults can remain on their parents' insurance plan
• 76,000 seniors will have their Medicare improved. Those are the facts of this bill.

What Calvert fails to see is that these facts are more than just numbers on a page—these numbers represent real people that will benefit from this reform. Ken Calvert had the chance to do right by them, and he failed. Just as Calvert failed when he repeatedly opposed expanding insurance coverage to children, opposed re-importation of prescription drugs, and opposed low-cost health insurance plans for small businesses.

Two more facts worth mentioning: This bill will reduce the deficit by over $100 billion over the next ten years and by about $1 trillion over the next twenty. This is fiscally responsible legislation. Putting the party line ahead of the financial future of our children and our country is irresponsible leadership.

Today’s vote was ultimately about responsibility. Fiscal responsibility to bring America forward and the moral responsibility to keep America healthy. Ken Calvert’s record is clear—he is not the person to lead us forward as we fight to further reform and balance the budget. It is time for new, responsible leadership in Washington—leadership we can trust to get the job done.

Sincerely,

Bill

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