House passes bill to allow Americans to keep their insurance, 39 Democrats vote with GOP
39 Democrats joined House Republicans in passing a new bill which would allow insurance carriers an option of extending coverage for patients through 2014 due to the new restrictions outlined in Obamacare.
The famous “If you like your insurance, you can keep up” rhetoric was put to the vote in the Keep Your Health Plan Act, introduced by Rep. Fred Upton (R-MD) as the President apologized for the problems and assured Americans the administration was working to correct the problems with the new law.
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The bill will now move to the Senate and is expected to be met with stronger opposition from the Senate Democrats.
With the final tally at 261-157, four Republicans opposed it: Oklahoma Rep. John Bridenstine, Georgia Rep. Paul Broun, Texas Rep. Ralph Hall, and Kentucky Rep. Tom Massie. (Michigan Rep. Justin Amash, who said the bill was a “favor” to Barack Obama, voted for it anyway.
Here is how Slate describes the 39 Democrats who voted with the GOP:
Guys who hate Obamacare (3): Georgia Rep. John Barrow, Utah Rep. Jim Matheson, and North Carolina Rep. Mike McIntyre all hail from red districts and vote against Obamacare whenever they can.
2014 Senate candidates (2): Iowa Rep. Bruce Braley and Michigan Rep. Gary Peters, both their party’s picks to replace old bulls in the Senate, voted “aye.” This put Braley at odds with Tom Harkin, whom he wants to replace.
Swing seaters (33): Arizona Rep. Ron Barber, California Rep. Ami Bera, New York Rep. Tim Bishop, California Rep. Julia Brownley, Illinois Rep. Cheri Bustos, California Rep. Jim Costa, Washington Rep. Suzan DelBene, Illinois Rep. Tammy Duckworth—I could go on, but almost every other Democratic “no” came from a seat that was won in 2012, or whose last race was decided in the single digits.*
Ron Kind (1): Yeah, he holds a western Wisconsin seat that was gerrymandered to be safer (this to shore up freshman Republican Sean Duffy), but he might run for Senate or governor one day. Maybe in 2016, when Ron Johnson—author of the the would-be “Upton bill” of the Senate—is up for a second term.
