Health care reform legislation passed in the House of Representatives on March 21, 2010 in a 219 -212 vote. Thirty-four Democrats joined with all the House Republicans in voting against the legislation. Political efforts by the Democratic majority to push through health care reform legislation was greatly intensified over the last several weeks of debate. The President then signed the original Senate bill which was passed by the House and a second piece of legislation known as the reconcilation bill. The President then signed an Executive Order that was intended to prevent additional funding for abortion. The order falls far short of its goal. Together these two bills and the Executive Order create the new national health care system.
HOW CONNECTICUT VOTED: John Larson (D) 1st District "YES"
Joe Courtney (D) 2nd Distict "YES"
Rosa DeLauro (D) 3rd District "YES"
Chris Himes (D) 4th District "YES"
Chris Murphy (D) 5th District "YES"
When the bill voted on by the House originally passed in the U.S. Senate both Connecticut Senators, Christopher Dodd (D) and Joseph Lieberman (D), voted "YES"
Although the Catholic Bishops recognize the need for health care reform, the current legislation fails to prevent taxpayer funding of abortions and offers no protections to medical practitioners who refuse to perform abortions. The legislation will also provided increased funding for Community Health Centers which may be used for abortions. All three of these items, currently restricted under federal law would be reversed. This lead Cardinal Francis George, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, to call for the defeat of the currently proposed health care reform legislation.
"Two basic principles, therefore, continue to shape the concerns of the Catholic bishops: health care means taking care of the health needs of all, across the human life span; and the expansion of health care should not involve the expansion of abortion funding and of polices forcing everyone to pay for abortions. Because these principles have not been respected, despite the good that the bill under consideration intends or might achieve, the Catholic bishops regretfully hold that it must be opposed unless and until these serious moral problems are addressed." Cardinal Francis George, March 15, 2010
Related Stories:
March 21 - Catholic Bishops Join Pro-Life Groups Against Abortion-Executive Order Idea
March 16 - Catholic Bishops Continue Opposing Pro-Abortion Senate Health Care Bill
March 16 - Connecticut U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro Opposes Stupak Amendment Limiting Abortion Funding In Budget Committee Meeting
STATE LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY
2009 - Sustinet Plan Legislation Enacted: H.B. 6600 concerns the establishment of the Sustinet Universal health care insurance plan. The bill was voted out of the House and Senate along party lines. The bill was vetoed by Governor on July 8th, but overriden by the General Assembly. Several boards and committees will now be established to develop final legislation for the 2011 session of the General Assembly. The Connecticut Catholic Conference will monitor the development of this legislation. Note: The implementation of this legislation will be impacted by the passage of federal health care reform.
