Suburban Cook House members follow party lines on health care bill

November 7, 4:40 PMCook County Political Buzz ExaminerKelli Kobor

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A vote in the US House of Representatives could come as early as tonight on the massive, 1,990 page bill to radically transform the nation's health care system under government direction.  The position of most Chicago area suburban members of Congress has been known for weeks, if not months.  But two-term Democrat Melissa Bean of Barrington remained on the fence until just a few hours ago, when she decided to cast her vote in favor of the bill, which is sponsored by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and strongly supported by President Obama.

Other representatives from suburban Cook County are Republicans Mark Kirk, who is running for Senate, Peter Roskam of Wheaton, and Judy Biggert of Hinsdale.  All are voting "no" on the legislation. Democrats in favor of the bill include Jan Schakowsky of Evanston and Bill Foster of Batavia.  Foster, like Bean, is from a swing district and had also been undecided on his vote until today.  The Hill newspaper reports that at least nine other vulnerable Democrats have chosen a different path from Bean and Foster, declaring their intent to vote "no" on the bill when it comes to a vote.