Congressional candidate Robert Dobbs (SC-1, D) responds to the passage of the historic health care reform bill and Representative Henry Brown's voting record on health care.
Robert Dobbs for Congress, SC-01
Congressional candidate Robert Dobbs (SC-1, D) responds to the passage of the historic health care reform bill and Representative Henry Brown's voting record on health care.
On Saturday, November 7th, a bipartisan majority of the House of Representatives made history by passing H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act.
Dobbs stated, "November 7th was a historic day in this country when we the people get control back with our health care from the insurance companies. All Americans deserve affordable access to health care and should not have to worry whether they will have coverage or be able to afford health insurance. I praise President Barack Obama and Speaker Nancy Pelosi for their courage in fighting for the health care options for Americans."
A vote for this bill was a vote to provide secure and stable coverage for Americans with insurance, expand coverage for those who do not have insurance, lower costs for families and businesses, and begin to reduce the deficit. However, Henry Brown joined his Republican colleges and put the Republican Party ahead of the needs of Americans and the citizens of the 1st District of South Carolina.
• Henry Brown voted against Americans by allowing insurance companies to deny coverage based on a pre-existing condition.
• Henry Brown voted against allowing individuals up to 27 years old to stay on their parent’s health insurance.
• Henry Brown voted against tax subsidies for small businesses, which are greatly affected by the increased cost of health insurance.
• Henry Brown voted against a public health insurance option and a national exchange for the uninsured and small businesses to purchase health insurance.
Dobbs feels Henry Brown is out of touch with the citizens of the 1st District and his actions only replicate his voting record on health care.
Dobbs stated, "Henry Brown has voted against the Mental Health Coverage Bill, voted against funding for AIDS funding, SCHIP, Prescription Drug Imports, and the list goes on and on. Millions of Americans are affected by the problems in the health insurance industry and many families forgo necessary procedures due to the fact they have no health insurance coverage or are underinsured.
Henry Brown has voted against my family personally with his no votes on health care and against the citizens of the 1st District of South Carolina."
• Henry Brown voted against the SCHIP extension, HR-2, that expands coverage of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
• Henry Brown voted against HR-5501, a bill that authorizes $48 billion to the Global Fund for assistance to certain countries for combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis for the five-year period of 2009 through 2013.
• Henry Brown voted against HR-1424, in 2008, a bill that requires health coverage plans that offer mental health coverage to establish parity between mental and substance treatments and physical health treatments.
• Henry Brown voted against H Amdt 734, in 2007, an amendment that would remove section 726 of HR 3161 and allow funds appropriated in HR 3161 to be used to prohibit the importation of prescription drugs by anyone who is not a legally sanctioned importer of drugs, a wholesaler, or a pharmacist.
Last year, Henry Brown stated,"I strongly supported reauthorizing the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, and fought to ensure that the neediest children were taken care of rather than expanding the program to middle class families." However the truth is last year Brown had a chance to live up to what was just said, but refused to do so. On H.R. 3963 - the SCHIP Extension, he voted no and thereby voted to deny health insurance coverage to the children of South Carolina.
Dobbs stated, "Henry Brown's no vote on the SCHIP extension actually affected my family as well as many families through South Carolina and the United States. My 5 year daughter has autism and was on the waiver list for in-home therapy. Without passage of SCHIP, my daughter would not have gotten the necessary in-home therapy in time to make a difference in her life."
Robert Dobbs, a veteran of the U.S. Army, is running for Congress in South Carolina’s First District.
Robert Dobbs for Congress, SC-01