How Valley Delegation Voted on Health Care Bill
gvw_david_taub
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 8 years ago on
May 4, 2017
Serpent and staff logo

Share

The House voted today (May 4) to replace “ObamaCare,” 217-213. All 217 votes were from Republicans (20 Republicans voted no, joining 193 Democrats).

Here is how the Valley delegation voted:

Yes:
Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Fresno/Clovis/Visalia)

Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford)

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield/Porterville)

Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Turlock)

Rep. Tom McClintock (R-eastern Fresno County)

No:

Rep. Jim Costa (D-Fresno/Merced)

Afterward, Costa e-mailed this statement to the media:

“Congressional Republican leaders and the Trump Administration have spent several weeks negotiating, and the end result of those negotiations made a disastrous health care bill even worse. The American people have demanded solutions that improve their health care outcomes from Congress, and this legislation fails to meet that test. If the American Health Care Act is enacted into law, then millions of Americans, including many of our friends and neighbors in the San Joaquin Valley, will either see their health care costs rise substantially or they will completely lose their coverage. Unconscionably, this legislation will also reduce the health care options available to our nation’s veterans, betraying our nation’s heroes after they have served our country.”

Valadao sent this to the media:

“Obamacare is failing. Under the law, our Central Valley communities were prevented from recruiting medical professionals, our emergency rooms were overflowing, and parents were unable to choose the best healthcare options for their children. As a parent, there is absolutely nothing more important to me than ensuring families have access to quality, affordable health insurance. Possession of an insurance card does not equate to healthcare services and medical treatment. The American Health Care Act will stabilize our healthcare system, ensuring our community has access to high quality, affordable health care.”

From Nunes:

“The House of Representatives took a big step today toward abolishing the failing Obamacare program and replacing it with a system that provides much better care at lower prices. Central Valley residents have been saddled for far too long with high prices, while many Medi-Cal participants are burdened by minimal healthcare choices, with some participants even forced to travel to the Bay area or Los Angeles to see specialists. The bill passed by the House today will make healthcare available to every American who wants it while protecting those with pre-existing conditions.”

From McClintock:

Obamacare is collapsing.  Last year’s average premium increase of 25 percent is expected to balloon by another 40 percent this year.  Last year there was only one provider in a third of American counties; this year entire regions will be without ANY providers.  This week we learned Obamacare policies will NOT be available at any price in almost all of Iowa.  Last year, more Americans opted to pay the steep tax penalty or request hardship exclusions than chose to purchase Obamacare plans they didn’t want and couldn’t afford.

The American Health Care Act replaces the compulsory one-size-fits-all bureaucratic model of Obamacare with a voluntary, patient-centered system by restoring a healthy competitive market, where patients will have the widest range of choices and the freedom to choose the plan that best meets their needs – along with a supportive tax system to assure that plans are within their financial reach.  Patients with pre-existing conditions are guaranteed coverage at affordable rates.

I had hoped the reforms could be enacted as a single, comprehensive bill.  Conspicuously lacking in the AHCA is a provision to restore the freedom of consumers to shop across state lines, which will be vital to Californians stuck in the highly-regulated state system.  But the AHCA moves us quickly toward a consumer-friendly health-care system and follow-up legislation will assure that Californians can access reformed markets in all fifty states.

Here is McCarthy’s floor speech today:

 

What are your thoughts? Leave your comments below.

Contact David Taub

Phone: 559-492-4037 / e-mail

This story was not subject to the approval of Granville Homes.

Want these stories delivered directly to your e-mail inbox? Subscribe today.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

23 for ’23: A Year in Photos

DON'T MISS

See How this Fresno roastery sends aid to Northern Thailand.

DON'T MISS

District Says Fresno Teachers Contract Proposal Would Bankrupt Budget Reserves by Year 3

DON'T MISS

Trump Vows to Ban Gaza Refugees, Expand Muslim Travel Ban If He Wins

DON'T MISS

The Supreme Court Orders Makers of Gun Parts to Comply with Rules on Ghost Guns

DON'T MISS

George W. Bush for Speaker? A Democratic Lawmaker Thinks It’s Possible

DON'T MISS

Former Navy IT Manager Gets Five Years for Hacking, ID Theft

DON'T MISS

Gunman Kills Two Swedes in Brussels, Prompting Terror Alert and Halt of Belgium-Sweden Soccer Match

DON'T MISS

Zakaria: The Best Response to Hamas Would Be to Keep the Saudi Deal Alive

DON'T MISS

Groundbreaking Human Brain Atlas Offers New Hope for Treating Neurological Disorders

UP NEXT

State Department Memo Warns US Diplomats: No Gaza ‘De-Escalation’ Talk

UP NEXT

Jim Jordan’s Rapid Rise Cheered by Trump and Far Right. Could It Make Him Speaker?

UP NEXT

What Does Destroying Gaza Solve?

UP NEXT

The Supreme Court Orders Makers of Gun Parts to Comply with Rules on Ghost Guns

UP NEXT

Zakaria: The Best Response to Hamas Would Be to Keep the Saudi Deal Alive

UP NEXT

Newsom Signs Law to Slowly Raise Healthcare Minimum Wage to $25

UP NEXT

Groundbreaking Human Brain Atlas Offers New Hope for Treating Neurological Disorders

UP NEXT

Oprah Winfrey Proposed 2020 Presidential Run with Mitt Romney, New Book Reveals

UP NEXT

Trump Has Narrow Gag Order Imposed on Him by Federal Judge Overseeing 2020 Election Case

UP NEXT

Hunter Biden Investigations Lead to Ethical Concerns About President Biden, an AP-NORC Poll Shows

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

You May like

Trump Vows to Ban Gaza Refugees, Expand Muslim Travel Ban If He Wins

1 year ago

The Supreme Court Orders Makers of Gun Parts to Comply with Rules on Ghost Guns

1 year ago

George W. Bush for Speaker? A Democratic Lawmaker Thinks It’s Possible

1 year ago

Former Navy IT Manager Gets Five Years for Hacking, ID Theft

1 year ago

Gunman Kills Two Swedes in Brussels, Prompting Terror Alert and Halt of Belgium-Sweden Soccer Match

1 year ago

Zakaria: The Best Response to Hamas Would Be to Keep the Saudi Deal Alive

1 year ago

Groundbreaking Human Brain Atlas Offers New Hope for Treating Neurological Disorders

1 year ago

Newsom Signs Law to Slowly Raise Healthcare Minimum Wage to $25

1 year ago

Former Fresno CC Coach Ed Madec Arrested for Allegedly Threatening to Kill Chancellor

1 year ago

Jim Jordan’s Rapid Rise Cheered by Trump and Far Right. Could It Make Him Speaker?

1 year ago

HOT OFF THE PRESS

23 for ’23: A Year in Photos

1 year ago

1 year ago

Trump Vows to Ban Gaza Refugees, Expand Muslim Travel Ban If He Wins

1 year ago

The Supreme Court Orders Makers of Gun Parts to Comply with Rules on Ghost Guns

Photo of a hacker typing on a laptop

1 year ago

Former Navy IT Manager Gets Five Years for Hacking, ID Theft

1 year ago

Gunman Kills Two Swedes in Brussels, Prompting Terror Alert and Halt of Belgium-Sweden Soccer Match

1 year ago

Zakaria: The Best Response to Hamas Would Be to Keep the Saudi Deal Alive

1 year ago

Groundbreaking Human Brain Atlas Offers New Hope for Treating Neurological Disorders

1 year ago

Newsom Signs Law to Slowly Raise Healthcare Minimum Wage to $25

1 year ago

Oprah Winfrey Proposed 2020 Presidential Run with Mitt Romney, New Book Reveals

1 year ago

Bulldogs Get a Bye Week to Heal After Gutting Out Win at Utah State

1 year ago

Trump Has Narrow Gag Order Imposed on Him by Federal Judge Overseeing 2020 Election Case