Titus, Berkley say they will vote for House bill; 'public is demanding this,' says Titus

WASHINGTON -- Nevada's two Democratic representatives broke their silence Friday and announced they will vote for health care reform, moving controversial legislation that much closer to passage in the House.

With the vote expected to take place Sunday, Rep. Dina Titus emphasized consumer-friendly provisions in the landmark bill, saying it will improve coverage for Nevadans who already have health insurance while extending coverage to thousands more uninsured in the state.

"The public is demanding this," she said in predicting Congress will finalize a bill and send it to the White House. "We have carried this for a year. The president is making it his agenda. I think it is time to get busy."

Later in the afternoon, Rep. Shelley Berkley added her assent. She said the centerpiece of the bill -- making health insurance available to 32 million more Americans including 460,000 uninsured in Nevada -- was a shot at controlling medical costs in the long run.

"I believe with all my heart the current system is unsustainable," Berkley said. "The cost of health insurance is skyrocketing. I just made a decision that although this is not a perfect bill there is more in it that was good for the people I represent."

Titus and Berkley voted for an initial health care bill in November, and it would have been considered a big flip if either one of them had reversed course.

But both Titus and Berkley had expressed concerns about changes in the final bill as it was being formed and held out their commitments until it was published, along with estimates from the Congressional Budget Office that it would not add to the deficit.

Nevada's third House representative, Republican Dean Heller, has made no secret he will vote against the bill. Republicans say the bill inevitably will increase health care costs including premiums for policyholders, and will lead to a new era of "big government" involvement in health decisions. Under the bill, individuals must buy insurance or pay a penalty and penalizes companies that don't provide coverage.

Democrats say those provisions will help meet the goal of making coverage available to 32 million uninsured. The bill provides tax credits for small businesses to offset their costs and sets up health care "exchanges" where people not covered by their employer would buy policies, with help from government subsidies if necessary.

"This is not a Republican verses Democrat debate; this is Democrats versus the American people," Heller said. "Nevadans do not want the IRS forcing health care down their throats or a government bureaucrat making their health care decisions for them."

Titus said her support was cemented by late changes that repealed some of the special deals for individual senators, and the expansion of consumer reforms that will make insurance coverage more generous for larger numbers of policyholders.

Titus has been under a blizzard of pressure in recent days by supporters and opponents of the bill, with no promise that her vote will quell the controversy as she faces re-election in a district split over the issue.

Telephone lines to her offices in Washington and Henderson were tied up for long periods this week, according to constituents who called reporters.

Titus spokesman Andrew Stoddard said more than a thousand calls were answered this week and they ran about even for and against the bill.

Calls to Berkley's offices ran in the "hundreds," aide David Cherry said, with the breakdown being "close to even."

Democrats hope that once the bill is passed and signed into law, people will see benefits in consumer provisions that will take immediately.

Titus said she will be comfortable campaigning on her support for the health care bill.

"I have said from the beginning this is not for the faint-hearted," she said. "I knew health care was going to be an issue. I campaigned on it. I never thought it would be easy."

But in the meantime, a poll conducted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which opposes reform, indicated the measure is unpopular among a majority of constituents in the Third Congressional District, which includes Henderson, Boulder City, parts of Summerlin and North Las Vegas.

"Dina Titus turned her back on Nevada today pledging her support for an incredibly unpopular, expensive, tax-raising piece of legislation," said Joe Heck, a physician and Republican who is running against her.

Royse Smith, political science professor emeritus at the College of Southern Nevada, said he was not so sure that health care would be hazardous to Titus getting re-elected.

For one, he said it was the smart vote for Titus to stick with the Democratic leadership that will presumably make resources available for her campaign.

And, he said, if Democrats can finish a health care bill and move on to other issues, the controversy that is running so hot right now will fade over the summer as voters refocus on pocketbook issues.

Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760.

Trending topics:

• Dean Heller
• Dina Titus
• health care reform
• Shelley Berkley
• Steve Tetreault

Comments

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1. Reality Bites May 22, 2011 | 7:27 a.m. Report Abuse

   If this ObamaScare is so great for Nevada, including Titus and Berkley, they both need to sign up for it and cancel their current coverage. That also includes cancelling all the waivers granted - especially for the unions. Wouldn't that be 'great' for the democrat party...??

2. Joe.Blow May 22, 2011 | 7:06 a.m. Report Abuse

   Titus is no longer in office......................

3. Frank Jun. 29, 2010 | 6:47 a.m. Report Abuse

   Why are you posting a March 19 article as current news? It's the end of June!

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