Nearly 60 Percent Of Americans Reject Obama’s Costly Health Spending Bill That Bennet Eagerly Rubberstamped In Washington
WASHINGTON – With just 64 days until Election Day, a new voter survey by Rasmussen Reports shows that 58 percent of Americans favor the repeal of the Democrats’ massive health care overhaul, which appointed U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) eagerly rubberstamped.
The survey also shows that the majority of Americans do not believe the Democrats’ claim that their costly, unpopular bill will lower health care costs – a pitch that Democrats have sought to backtrack as most voters believe their costs will increase.
Notably, Bennet told CNN’s John King that he was willing to lose his job in order to ram into law the contentious legislation, which cuts Medicare by $500 billion, endangers jobs, reduces benefits and raises costs for Colorado seniors, and could strip more than one million Americans of their health coverage.
“With just 64 days until Election Day, this survey is yet another reminder that Michael Bennet and his reckless Washington policies are far outside the mainstream in his state. Bennet not only voted for President Obama’s costly health spending law, he called for a larger bill that would put Washington bureaucrats between Coloradans and their doctors, and he claimed that he was willing to lose his job to ram this legislation through Congress,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokeswoman Amber Marchand. “It’s clear that voters continue to overwhelmingly reject Bennet’s rubberstamp support for President Obama’s reckless tax-and-spend policies in Washington, and that’s why Coloradans will elect a fiscally responsible leader in Ken Buck.”
Background Information:
Bennet Voted For The Senate Health Care Bill. (H.R. 3590, CQ Vote #396: Passed 60-39: R 0-39; D 58-0; I 2-0, 12/24/09, Bennet Voted Yea)
Bennet Touted His Vote For The Senate Health Care Bill. “Today I voted for a health care reform bill that will bring meaningful change to Coloradans. Reform that provides coverage to 840,000 uninsured Coloradans, extends and protects Medicare for our seniors and provides free preventive care for everyone. Reform that provides tax cuts to small businesses and eliminates exclusions based on pre-existing conditions. And, as promised, I voted for health care reform that doesn’t add a dime to the deficit.” (Senator Michael Bennet, “Bennet Statement On Senate Passage Of Landmark Health Care Reform Bill,” Press Release, 12/24/09)
Bennet Said He Would Sacrifice His Job Over His “Yes” Vote On Health Care. “So when John King from CNN asked me if I would vote for health care reform, even if it meant losing my job, it was easy for me to answer. I said ‘Yes.’” (Sen. Michael Bennet, Op-Ed, “The Politics Of ‘Yes,’” The Hill, 11/25/09)
Around The Time Of Bennet’s Comments, 55 Percent Of Colorado Voters Opposed The Health Care Plan Proposed By President Obama And Congressional Democrats. (“Election 2010: Colorado Senate Race,” Rasmussen Reports, 12/11/09)
Bennet Supported The Public Option. “‘I think we need to cover everyone, partly because it’s the right thing to do,’ Bennet said. ‘I have supported the public option part of the discussion,’ he added, referring to elements of the reform proposal that would add government-sponsored coverage as an option. (Bob Berwyn, “Summit County Residents Pack Town Hall Meeting On Health Care,” Summit Daily News, 8/15/09)
· Bennet Claimed A Public Option Would Be “A Helpful Part Of An Overall Package And . . . Increase Choice.” “‘If a public option is paid for and we changed the incentive structures . . . it would be a helpful part of an overall package and it would increase choice,” Bennet said.” (John Tomasic, “Bennet Engages Religious Leaders In Health-Care Debate,” The Colorado Independent, 7/3/09)
Bennet: “I Am Not Happy That The Public Option Was Held Hostage By People In Our Own Party.” (Senator Michael Bennet, “Bennet Urges Washington To Put Aside Tired Politics, Enact Reform That Saves Money, Saves Lives & Gives Families A Fighting Chance,” Press Release, 12/21/09)
Bennet Wrote A Letter To Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) Advocating For The Public Option To Be Included In The Bill Through Reconciliation. “In his continued effort to pass health care reform that lowers costs and leads to higher quality care, Michael Bennet, U.S. Senator for Colorado, is leading the effort in the Senate to pass health insurance reform that includes a public health insurance option under budget reconciliation rules. Bennet has written a letter to Senate Majority Leader Reid and is circulating it for additional signatures.” (Senator Michael Bennet, “Bennet Leads Push To Include Public Option In Health Insurance Reform Reconciliation Package,” Press Release, 2/16/10)
Bennet Advocated Pushing The Public Option Through The Senate Via Reconciliation. “I’ve been a strong advocate for a public option since we were just starting the health care reform debate this summer in the Senate. The fight has been difficult, but I’ve remained confident that a public option will be included in our final health care legislation -- and I still believe we can include a public option. That’s why I’ve just sent a letter to Harry Reid calling on him to take the actions necessary to make this happen. . . . With majorities in the House and the Senate, we can use the reconciliation process to include a public option in the final bill.” (Senator Michael Bennet, Op-Ed, “Save The Public Option,” The Huffington Post, 2/16/10)
· Bennet: “With Majorities In The House And The Senate, We Can Use The Reconciliation Process To Include A Public Option In The Final Bill.” (Senator Michael Bennet, Op-Ed, “Save The Public Option,” The Huffington Post, 2/16/10)
ü Bennet: “Including A Public Option In Our Final Health Care Reform Legislation Will Make That Bill Far More Effective.” (Senator Michael Bennet, Op-Ed, “Save The Public Option,” The Huffington Post, 2/16/10)
