Rep. Fattah Endorses Obama Health Care Bill, Refuses to Disarm in Procedural Dispute

WASHINGTON, Feb. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA) releases the following statement regarding President Obama's health care initiative announced this morning.

"I enthusiastically support today's proposal from President Obama and look forward to voting it into law.  This legislation is the culmination of his mandate from voters, almost 16 months ago, to reform our health care system in a way that protects consumers over corporations and puts our country on firm financial footing as we recover from the economic crisis. 

"We have worked together, legislators and the Executive branch, listening to the American people, building on what works and reforming what doesn't to develop a comprehensive plan that will achieve our shared goal of expanding access and providing security and stability.  I look forward to crossing the finish line with the President as we bring this process to a successful conclusion.

"Some have called for Democrats to unilaterally disarm, take the simple-majority option off of the table, and concede to the demands of obstructionist Republicans.  As long as Republicans continue to misuse the filibuster to block government from doing its job and to advance their narrow and short-sighted political agenda of 'No,' it would be foolish for Democrats to kowtow to their bad faith demands.  It is entirely appropriate to use the budget reconciliation process – call it 'majority rules' - to amend the fiscal impact of legislation.  As I said on the day after the Democrats' Senate majority was reduced to a still-robust 59 members, I look forward to passing health care with this tool.

"While we often find ourselves in inter-chamber bickering, I commend my colleague Senator Specter and 19 other Senators for their bold support of both the public option and use of the reconciliation process.  Recognizing that health care is an economic issue, and that the public option will provide the choice and competition necessary to make a health care market work, these Senators are standing with a majority of the American people and hope to be joined by a majority of the U.S. Senate."   

SOURCE Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah