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Protesters take issue with Murphy’s vote on health care
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| Protesters gather outside the Hudson office of Congressman Scott Murphy Thursday to protest his “no” vote on the health care reform bill currently headed to the floor of the senate. (Robert Ragaini/Hudson-Catskill Newspapers) |
By Jamie Larson
Columbia County Democrats, organized by MoveOn.org, rallied outside, and inside, the Hudson district office of U.S. Rep. Scott Murphy Thursday.
The protesters were there to voice their displeasure over the congressman’s “no” vote on the health care reform bill which narrowly passed in the House of Representatives by five votes Saturday.
Murphy was one of 39 Democrats who voted against the bill, championed by President Barack Obama.
Protesters said they wanted Murphy to hear their disappointment and remind him that his vote is contrary to the will of those in Columbia County who helped get him elected in the extremely close special election this year.
The group presented Murphy’s Constituent Representative Zigis Switzer with a report card they made for Murphy. While the congressman got all passing grades for his support of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, education and credit reform, and initiatives bringing business to upstate New York, he received a bright red “Failed” for his “no” on health care reform.
“We’re disappointed he didn’t vote for this bill,” Robert Bisson said at the curbside. “A lot of us are disappointed in this bill, in terms of things like his stance on abortion rights, but that can be fixed.”
Though he voted against the health care bill, a statement released by his office Thursday said Murphy has consistently supported reform but disagreed with the way bill H.R. 3962 addressed the problem. “Congress should not pass a trillion dollar health overhaul that would leave our families and small businesses left paying more for health care, not less,” the statement reads.
The statement goes on to say that the bill fails at “protecting small businesses by exempting only those small businesses with payrolls below $500,000 from the pay or play scheme and only provides small businesses with health care tax credits for two years; imposes billions of dollars in taxes on medical device companies and paper mills — two of the largest private employers in the 20th District; fails to change incentives in the system by not containing delivery reform and maintaining a Fee For Service model; and does not include the necessary consumer protections to ensure that insurance companies could not unjustifiably raise premiums leaving our families and small business to pick up the tab.”
One protester said that while Murphy worries about a 2 percent tax increase on manufacturers killing business, the current health care system is killing people.
Peter Donahoe of Stuyvesant said Murphy received 10 percent of his margin of victory in the county from Stuyvesant and he has lost much, if not all of it with his health care vote.
“He blew it,” Donahoe said, holding up his own Scott Murphy election lawn signs with the congressman’s name crossed out in paint. “Anyone who thinks we’ll put these signs on our lawns for him again better think again.”
Donahoe gave the lawn signs to Switzer, saying he wouldn’t be needing them anymore.
Murphy announced Thursday that he will be hosting a tele-town hall conference at 7:10 p.m. Monday to continue the discussion on health care reform and the economy, and he invites the people of the 20th District to participate and ask questions and express their views.
Those interested in participating must call Murphy’s office at 202-225-5614 by 5 p.m. today, or e-mail NY20.townhall@mail.house.gov with their name, address, and phone number by noon Sunday to be added to the list.
Those who have signed up will receive a phone call Monday evening inviting them to join the call.
To reach reporter Jamie Larson, call 518-828-1616, ext. 2269, or e-mail jlarson@registerstar.com.
The protesters were there to voice their displeasure over the congressman’s “no” vote on the health care reform bill which narrowly passed in the House of Representatives by five votes Saturday.
Murphy was one of 39 Democrats who voted against the bill, championed by President Barack Obama.
Protesters said they wanted Murphy to hear their disappointment and remind him that his vote is contrary to the will of those in Columbia County who helped get him elected in the extremely close special election this year.
The group presented Murphy’s Constituent Representative Zigis Switzer with a report card they made for Murphy. While the congressman got all passing grades for his support of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, education and credit reform, and initiatives bringing business to upstate New York, he received a bright red “Failed” for his “no” on health care reform.
“We’re disappointed he didn’t vote for this bill,” Robert Bisson said at the curbside. “A lot of us are disappointed in this bill, in terms of things like his stance on abortion rights, but that can be fixed.”
Though he voted against the health care bill, a statement released by his office Thursday said Murphy has consistently supported reform but disagreed with the way bill H.R. 3962 addressed the problem. “Congress should not pass a trillion dollar health overhaul that would leave our families and small businesses left paying more for health care, not less,” the statement reads.
The statement goes on to say that the bill fails at “protecting small businesses by exempting only those small businesses with payrolls below $500,000 from the pay or play scheme and only provides small businesses with health care tax credits for two years; imposes billions of dollars in taxes on medical device companies and paper mills — two of the largest private employers in the 20th District; fails to change incentives in the system by not containing delivery reform and maintaining a Fee For Service model; and does not include the necessary consumer protections to ensure that insurance companies could not unjustifiably raise premiums leaving our families and small business to pick up the tab.”
One protester said that while Murphy worries about a 2 percent tax increase on manufacturers killing business, the current health care system is killing people.
Peter Donahoe of Stuyvesant said Murphy received 10 percent of his margin of victory in the county from Stuyvesant and he has lost much, if not all of it with his health care vote.
“He blew it,” Donahoe said, holding up his own Scott Murphy election lawn signs with the congressman’s name crossed out in paint. “Anyone who thinks we’ll put these signs on our lawns for him again better think again.”
Donahoe gave the lawn signs to Switzer, saying he wouldn’t be needing them anymore.
Murphy announced Thursday that he will be hosting a tele-town hall conference at 7:10 p.m. Monday to continue the discussion on health care reform and the economy, and he invites the people of the 20th District to participate and ask questions and express their views.
Those interested in participating must call Murphy’s office at 202-225-5614 by 5 p.m. today, or e-mail NY20.townhall@mail.house.gov with their name, address, and phone number by noon Sunday to be added to the list.
Those who have signed up will receive a phone call Monday evening inviting them to join the call.
To reach reporter Jamie Larson, call 518-828-1616, ext. 2269, or e-mail jlarson@registerstar.com.
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