Nevada representatives divided in health care law debate

WASHINGTON -- Nevada members of Congress sparred along party lines Wednesday over the new health care law, disagreeing whether it presents a lifeline or a line of red tape for consumers and businesses.

Republican Reps. Dean Heller and Joe Heck argued the health care overhaul that was passed last year will be costly and onerous and should be repealed.

On the other hand, Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley said turning back now would deprive thousands of Nevadans from accessing consumer benefits and protections against insurance cutoffs.

Berkley said the repeal drive propelled by Republicans was "a legislative stunt."

But Republicans who won control of the House in the November elections prevailed in a repeal vote later in the day.

Earlier, in his first floor speech as a House member, freshman Heck announced he would vote for repeal, even though there were some parts of health reform that he favored.

"There is more wrong with this bill than is right," Heck said.

Heller argued the health care law is growing the federal government and will impose requirements on businesses that will stymie job creation.

"This Congress is in the business of cutting red tape, not creating it," he said.

The Nevadans along with dozens of lawmakers debated whether to scrap the landmark law passed amid controversy last year.

Heck generally had been critical of the law although he had stopped short of committing to whether he would scrap it outright.

He had said there were things about reform worth keeping, such as allowing dependent children to remain on their parents' health policies until they turn 26, and requiring that insurance companies don't deny coverage to someone with a pre-existing condition.

But Heck, an emergency room physician, also said he opposed requiring people to buy health insurance or pay a fine.

With Republicans putting in place a strategy to craft a replacement bill along free-market principles, Heck delivered his most direct remarks in favor of repealing the one in place.

"The new health care law will cost money that taxpayers don't have, and it will cost jobs we can't afford to lose," Heck said. "Now is the time to re-examine this misguided law."

"What the American people want are solutions that don't cost the taxpayer more money and don't prevent small businesses from hiring new employees," he said.

Democrats have said the health care overhaul will bring affordable insurance coverage to millions of Americans, and already is providing consumer protections to patients.

Republicans have argued that the overhaul creates a maze of mandates that will cause companies to cut health insurance for their workers and hire fewer employees.

No Republican voted for the health care bill that passed the House when it was controlled by Democrats last session, and none stepped forward to defend it Wednesday.

Meanwhile, all but three Democrats voted against repeal. In a test vote two weeks ago, four Democrats crossed party lines and voted in favor of repeal.

While the debate over the health care law has captured much attention, the campaign to scrap it outright is expected to be halted in its tracks after Wednesday's 245-189 vote to repeal.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., the Senate majority leader who engineering the health care legislation to passage last year, has said he will block any attempts to bring up health care repeal.

Recognizing that, Republicans have said they plan to seek piecemeal changes in the law.

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