Local Reps vote against health bill

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed landmark health care reform Saturday, Nov. 7, but none of the Dayton-area representatives voted for the bill.

Congressmen Mike Turner (R-Centerville), John Boehner (R-West Chester), Jim Jordan (R-Urbana) and Steve Austria (R-Beavercreek) voted against the reform. U.S. Rep. Turner said he'd rather see "common sense reform."

"This is a bill that steps in between our relationship with our doctor," said Mike Turner. "The patient-doctor relationship is one that we have all relied on knowing that the doctor knows best that they'll be making the decisions that are necessary for our care."

Turner said other options should have been considered, including prohibiting insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions, allowing small businesses to pool coverage and offering the ability to deduct the full cost of health care premiums.

The bill's price tag has been estimated at $1.2 trillion, but many said the change is necessary.

"It looks like it's going to be pretty expensive for us in the long run," said Larry Sabin, Moraine. "But I'm glad it passed."

"If we can provide an economically feasible health care plan and make it available to more people, then that is what we need to do," said Steve Arndts, Oakwood. "Health care institutions are in dire straights for reimbursement, continue to be cut, doctors continue to be cut, so it does need to be done."