Chris Smith has done it again.
The New Jersey Congressman joined a Republican motion against affordable health care reform. Fortunately, the motion was swiftly defeated.
Smith’s support of the insurance companies and health care practices that were acceptable under President Bush (aka “Bush-Care”) is nothing new. In 2007, Smith voted against children’s health care. In 08, he voted against mental health care. This year, Smith voted against health care reform for all Americans.
In the June 26th edition of the Brick Times, Congressman Smith condemned health care reform, claiming the bill cuts Medicare benefits, increases the deficit and creates new taxes for businesses. This is what Smith and Fox News wants you to believe and it’s not true.
If the Congressman actually took the time to read the health care bill, he’d find that the bill, among many benefits: (1) pays for itself for by readjusting certain costs and increasing taxes only for the upper class; (2) creates tax credits and/or tax breaks for small businesses, middle and lower classes families; (3) closes the Medicare doughnut hole and (4) establishes new oversight and accountability for protection against the insurance companies, which means you’ll no longer be denied coverage based on pre-existing conditions. Smith voted against these benefits.
According to the World Health Organization, the United States has the 37th best health care system in the World. Why only 37th best? Because America lacks the universal health care system all other industrial nations have. While this health care reform isn’t true universal health care, it’s a progressive step towards a future public option. Either Congressman Smith doesn’t realize this or he supports “Bush-Care”, a system where insurance companies deny coverage and bankrupt the American people.
Can someone please tell Chris Smith that he is supposed to represent the people and not the insurance industry?
