Rep. Lynch (D-MA): "This is a very good bill for insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies" [View All]

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Source: Boston Globe

WASHINGTON – Despite pressure from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats, Representative Stephen F. Lynch of South Boston said today that he will vote against President Obama’s health care overhaul when it comes to the House floor, contending that it doesn’t put enough pressure on insurance companies to reduce costs.

The move is a switch for Lynch, who voted in favor of the House health care bill in November. But he said the current version, which was approved by the Senate, is not as strong as that measure. Lynch’s decision makes passing health care more difficult for House leaders, who are trying to get commitments to vote yes from 216 representatives.

“We’ve paid the ransom, but at the end of the day the insurance companies are still holding the hostages,” Lynch said in an interview with the Globe early this afternoon. “This is a very good bill for insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies. It might be good for Nebraska, I don’t know. Or Florida residents…But it’s not good for the average American, and it’s not good for my district. Or for Massachusetts.”

He said he opposes the so-called Cadillac tax the Senate adopted that would put a surcharge on expensive health insurance plans, and he is also disappointed that the final bill doesn’t include proposals to allow states to adopt a government-run insurance plan to compete with private insurers.

“The insurers still rule,” he said. “Were just pumping subsidies into the current system, but that won’t drive down costs.”

Pressure on him is coming from the White House, House leadership, and members of the Massachusetts delegation, but Lynch said he didn’t see a scenario where he could support the bill.

Lynch is going to the White House this afternoon to hear a plea from President Obama. Vicki Kennedy has also spoken to him.

Lynch downplayed any notion that Obama’s presidency could be irreparably damaged if his signature health care reform package is defeated.

“This will not sink his presidency,” he said. “That fear is overstated.”

Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2010/03/lynch_will_vote.html