WTHR |Indiana delegation split over health care bill

Indiana delegation split over health care bill

After Congress passed a sweeping health care reform bill late Saturday night, Hoosier lawmakers quickly responded.  The vote, as expected, was split along party lines 220-215, with only one Republican voting in favor of the bill. 

All five Hoosier Democratic representatives voted for the health care reform bill.  All four Hoosier Republican representatives voted against it.

While Democrats maintain the bill would provide health care to millions of Americans who can't otherwise afford it, Republicans say this legislation would drive up insurance costs and lessen the quality of health care.

Indiana Congressman Mike Pence is the third ranking Republican in the U.S. House.  He says Democrats didn't get the message from this past summer's town hall meetings. 

"I think the American people are deeply frustrated with a liberal establishment in Washington, DC that is ignoring their will.  Nancy pelosi last night said that they were answering the call of history.  I gotta tell you, if Democrats keep ignoring the American people, their party is going to be history in about a year," said Pence.

Governor Daniels responded Sunday morning on C-Span.

"Well I'm sad about it.  I want to choose my adjectives carefully here.  I really do believe this whole bill moves in the wrong direction and will only make the worst problem we have, which is the cost of health care, worse still," said Daniels.

On the Democrat's side, 9th district representative Baron Hill said, "As an elected representative, I have been tasked with the weighty responsibility of acting as a good steward of the general welfare of my constituents and a good steward of their money.  My vote in support of the Affordable Health Care for America Act is a fulfillment of those responsibilities," said Hill.

Democratic representative Andre Carson voted for the health care reform bill.  He says, "With this legislation, ten of thousands of Indianapolis residents can finally gain access to affordable health coverage."

The bill now moves on  to the U.S. Senate, where it will have a much tougher time passing.  Moderate Democrats say the bill in its current form is unacceptable.  Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut told Fox News that if a "so-called public option" is part of the bill, he would not sign it.  Democrats need Lieberman's vote to break any GOP fillibusters in the Senate.

Republican Lindsey Graham said on CBS' "Face the Nation":

"The House bill is dead on arrival in the Senate."

Democrats are not lining up to challenge him. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has yet to schedule floor debate and hinted last week that senators may not be able to finish health care this year.

(Associated Press contributed to this report.)