Nevada Democrats supported bill; GOP’s Heller opposed

Nevada Democrats Shelley Berkley and Dina Titus supported the House health care reform bill while Republican Dean Heller opposed it.

Titus called the vote historic and hopes the Senate can follow the House and approve health legislation.

“Mainly I want the Senate just to move and take some action. We feel like we made history and we hate to see it languish on the other side.”

Berkley said although the bill isn’t perfect, it’s a “great first step.”

She said the bill “doesn’t contain a provision to protect bone density tests I fought for and doesn’t fix the Medicare physician payment system and we must fix both, but I do support this for the needed reforms that are included.”

Heller said: “Today America is less free. Granting massive government intrusion into individuals’ health care choices will ultimately lead to fewer choices for Americans.” 

Heller offered three amendments earlier in the process related to citizenship verification, in favor of prescription drug reimportation and in favor of debt forgiveness for doctors who practice in poor communities. All three were rejected.

Berkley and Titus voted against the amendment which would bar federal funding for most abortions, which passed on a vote of 240-194. Democrats split 64-192 against the amendment, but 176 Republicans, including Heller, voted in favor of it. The alternative Republican health care plan was rejected on a vote of 176-258. Berkley and Titus opposed it; Heller supported it.

Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at bspillman@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3861.