Costello breaks his word on Obama's healthcare bill
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[After telling his constituents last week that he would vote against the senate's health care reform bill, U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Belleville) voted for the unpopular bill. The bill, which passed in the House late Sunday by a vote of 219-212, has consistently been viewed unfavorably in numerous polls by a majority of Americans.
Passage of this bill is certainly historic. It is expected to be signed into law by President Obama in a few days.
Every Republican representative voted against the bill, as did 34 Democrats.
Week after week, one poll after another has shown more than 50 percent of Americans opposed passage of the bill. As recently as last weekend, a Rasmussen Poll reported 54 percent wanted the bill defeated.
Passage of the bill against the will of the majority by their elected officials does not bode well for congressmen from many districts in this November's elections. Costello, though, is generally considered safe in terms of reelection, coming from a heavily Democratic district. He has served as representative for Illinois 12th District since 1988 and is seeking a twelfth term. His district includes Randolph County.
The bill, which takes effect gradually, will not be fully implemented for four years. It has a projected cost of $940 billion over ten years. During the second ten year period, the Congressional Budget Office estimated the bill will reduce the federal deficit by $1.2 trillion.
One of the immediate effects of the bill becoming law will be a ban on insurance companies refusing insurance because of preexisting conditions. Insurance officials say this could lead to many companies going out of business.
Another immediate effect will be enabling parents to purchase health insurance for children in college up to the age of 26.
Rep. John Shimkus (R-Collinsville) of the neighboring 19th District, along with Costello, represents the majority of southern Illinois. "There are so many problems with this legislation," Shimkus said in a press release. "While we are in tough economic times, this bill increases taxes for individuals and employers."
During debate on the bill, Costello issued a floor statement that included the following: "This has been the hardest decision regarding a vote I have had to make during my service in the House of Representatives. During that time, I have strived to serve the people I represent with diligence and integrity, while remaining true to my core individual beliefs."
When he claimed he was going to vote against the bill he gave as reasons the prohibitive cost of the bill and the fact that the bill supports taxpayer-funded abortions.
Costello said he changed his mind when President Obama promised to issue an executive order banning federal funding for abortion. He stated: "With the presidential executive order approving the Hyde abortion language and the fact that H.R. 4872 eliminates the 'Cornhusker Kickback' and other state-specific promises, combined with assurances from the Senate that H.R. 4872 will pass that body, I feel I can now support the Senate bill as amended."
In his floor statement, Costello said that 34,000 people in his district have no health care insurance and receive treatment at hospital emergency rooms funded by Medicaid. That figure includes 9,000 individuals who are ineligible for health insurance due to pre-existing conditions.
Costello concluded his floor statement saying: "Madame Speaker, after much deliberation, it is clear to me that we must take this opportunity to improve the provision of health care in our country. While it is a difficult thing to do, it is unquestionably the right thing to do, and I am confident that history will reflect this fact."