Rothman supports health-care reform

By Susan C. Moeller, Senior Reporter
The Leader

(Nov. 12, 2009) — The U.S. House of Representatives voted for the historic “Affordable Health Care in America Act,” Saturday, Nov. 7, at approximately 11:30 p.m.

Congressman Steve Rothman, who represents the southern section of Bergen County, was one of the 220 legislators to vote for the bill, HR 3962. Another 215 logged “no” votes.

“This is probably the most important domestic policy vote I have cast in my 13 years in Congress,” Rothman stated in a press release after the vote.

“The vast majority” of the constituents who have communicated with Rothman “agree that the status-quo of our dysfunctional, wasteful and unfair health-care system is simply unsustainable,” the congressman continued. “While America’s present health system offers some of the world’s best medical care, ever-increasing millions of Americans are denied access to this care, because they cannot afford it.”

Rothman’s local listening sessions drew crowds of people with passionate opinions about health-care reform, both for and against.

The provisions of the bill will now be debated by the Senate.

A copy of the bill — 1,990 pages long — is available online at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h3962ih.txt.pdf

Or by referencing the bill number at the Library of Congress’ Thomas Web site, Thomas.LOC.gov.