Brian Baird (D-Wash.) says he'll vote against current House health care bill

[Newsjock]

Source: The Stranger

Brian Baird, the Democratic congressman from Vancouver, Washington, says he's going to vote against his party's landmark health insurance reform bill this weekend (or, perhaps, early next week). Why?

Until more information is available on premium estimates and Medicare impacts, I will vote against the legislation in its current form.

Oh, and he wants Republicans to be able to introduce more amendments, too.

... I will wait to make a decision on final legislation until this critical information becomes available and when the House and Senate together produce one bill.

Read more: http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2009/11/06/2676603-a-defector-in-the-delegation

[Beregond2]

1. I just called to voice my objections to his reasoning.

His DC mailbox is full, no answer at his Vancouver WA office. Finally got voicemail at the Olympia WA office. While there is a certain logic to his objections, they are penny-ante compared to the loss of momentum failure to pass would entail. Far better to get something passed now and fix any problems later, than to let this moment pass.

[TheWebHead]

2. the optics of voting for a $1.1 trillion bill just after 10.2% unemployment is announced

is going to make a vote for this bill very difficult in a lot of districts.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. My congressman. A part time liberal when it suits him.

He surpassed my nose holding abilities when he defended the "surge" in Iraq. I let him know that how he votes determines how I vote.