South Carolina Insurance News and Information March 16th, 2010

According to the most recent NBC News/ Wall Street Journal polls, many lawmakers may have to face their fears, that the way they vote on the health care overhaul may cost them re-election this coming November. The voters are divided, as are the lawmakers. Of the voters polled, 34% said that they would be less likely to vote for a representative that sided with the Republicans against the overhaul bill, while 36% said they would be less likely to vote for those who sided with the Democrats to pass the bill. As our representatives inch closer to a decision, about 30% of voters feel that the way a lawmaker votes on this issue would not affect their future voting.

Meanwhile, Democrats are scrambling to secure votes on behalf of the health bill. Plans to push this legislation through the House without a direct vote were immediately attacked by the Republicans. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said, “Anyone who endorses this strategy will forever be remembered for trying to claim they didn’t vote for something they did. It will go down as one of the most extraordinary legislative sleights of hand in history.” If this massive legislation were to get through the House without a direct vote, lawmakers would avoid blame for helping pass it, because they were not directly supporting. Clearly this is misleading, and regardless of whether there is a direct vote. Passing it through shows majority support.

President Obama continues to press for support of his health care bill. On Saturday during his weekly radio and internet address, Obama attempted to persuade the public, and especially Democratic lawmakers that are hesitant to support the bill.

Many South Carolina residents have soured on the topic. Republicans have picked up on the public’s negative response to the bill, and are urging legislators to throw out the bill and start over with a blank slate.  The proposal that would potentially restructure health care that South Carolina residents receive should be disregarded, and lawmakers should start from scratch in developing a new health care plan.

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