Schrader, Bruun offer their views on health care

Schrader votes in favor of historic Affordable Health Care for America Act

The West Linn Tidings, Nov 12, 2009

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Democrat Congressman Kurt Schrader, from Oregon’s 5th District, and his declared Republican challenger in next year’s primary, State Rep. Scott Bruun of West Linn, have decidedly different takes on the historic House vote Saturday on the Affordable Health Care for America Act.

Schrader, who lives in Canby, voted in favor of the bill; Bruun, whose House District 37 includes West Linn, Tualatin and a portion of Lake Oswego, feels H.R. 3962 is flawed.

“I am proud to have cast a historic vote today to overhaul America’s failing healthcare system to improve the healthcare of all Americans,” Schrader said. “This bill prohibits exclusions based on preexisting conditions and ensures American families will no longer be one illness or job loss away from bankruptcy. It also protects America’s senior citizens by fixing the donut hole sooner and allowing more drug price-negotiation to ensure seniors are getting the best prices for their medication. For the first time in our nation’s history, we say that every American deserves access to affordable quality healthcare.”

Bruun, however, was less than pleased.

“The passage of this bill was a mistake of massive proportions. This bill may very well prove to be the most damaging piece of legislation offered by congress since the Hawley-Smoot Act nearly eighty years ago” said Bruun. “HR 3962 will increase both the cost and complexity of health care. Worse, if it becomes law, this bill will be directly complicit in making tens of millions of Americans dangerously dependent on government.

“The problems with healthcare today are not from too little government involvement, but too much,” Bruun added. “Everything that’s wrong with healthcare today, including skyrocketing costs, will be exasperated by this bill.”

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