Mar 22, 2010

By Bart Jansen - Florida Today

The entire Florida delegation voted along straight party lines on the health legislation, with Democratic Rep. Suzanne Kosmas of New Smyrna Beach supporting it and Republican Rep. Bill Posey of Rockledge opposing it.

Kosmas, who had voted against an earlier version of health-care overhaul in the House, supported this version for cutting the deficit an estimated $143 billion over 10 years.

“With the passage of this fiscally responsible health care reform legislation, we have taken a significant step towards reducing the deficit, ending unfair insurance practices, lowering health care costs, and improving coverage for Central Florida’s families, seniors and small businesses,” Kosmas said.

But Posey criticized the lack of transparency and accountability in drafting the bill.

“No one is suggesting the status quo is acceptable and I have cosponsored more than a dozen health care bills aimed at fixing the problems with our current system,” Posey said. “And I worry that by enacting this legislation, Congress and the administration will be driving our nation deeper into debt with the bill being passed on to our children and grandchildren.”

This article was reprinted from www.FloridaToday.com