How Tennessee Representatives Voted On the Final Health Care Reform Bill

Thirty-four of a little over 250 Democratic representatives voted against the Senate version health care reform bill that became law Sunday night. Two of the 34 are from Tennessee: Lincoln Davis and John Tanner.

As in the November House vote, all Tennessee Republicans voted against the package: Phil Roe, John Duncan, Zack Wamp, and Marsha Blackburn.

One Representative who voted against the November house health care bill, voted in favor of the more conservative Senate bill this time. Middle Tennessee Rep. Bart Gordon, amid controversy surrounding rumor that he was offered the position of NASA administrator if he voted in favor of health care reform (a rumor for which he and the administration denies); voted for reform this time.

In a statement Gordon said:

“In the end, the question I'm faced with is this: will this reform be better for Middle Tennessee than the status quo? I think it will. That's why I believe passing meaningful health care reform is essential and why I have made my decision to help ensure health care is affordable for Middle Tennesseans today and for generations to come.”

Despite all the ballyhoo and lambasting by liberals for months, Blue Dog Democrat Jim Cooper voted in favor of both health care bills that came to the house floor, in November and this past weekend. Memphis Rep Steve Cohon was the other of the Tennessee Contingent to vote in favor of the bill.

For his part, Democrat John Tanner, in explaining his no vote, in part wrote on his website:

“There is no question our health care system needs reform. Since the outset of this national dialogue, I have talked with many West and Middle Tennesseans about how we can identify and fix what is broken within our system. Chief among these goals is the long-term reduction in health care costs for families, employers and the government…“After thorough and careful review of the legislation, I am unconvinced that the long-term trend of rising health care costs is adequately addressed and am therefore unable to support the legislation.” Read more: http://www.blogdoctor.me/2007/02/expandable-post-summaries.html#ixzz0fvTXmFSF