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SI Dem Congressman votes no on health care
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Staten Island Democratic Congressman Michael McMahon voted against the landmark health care bill which passed the House of Representatives 220-215 this weekend.
The bill expands medical coverage to tens of millions who lack it and places tough new retrictions of the insurance industry.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi likened the legislation to passage of the Social Security Act in 1935 and Medicare 30 years later.
McMahon stated that the bill would penalize small businesses and could have the unintended consequence of encouraging businesses to drop healthcare coverage and push people into the public option
"The House bill being debated costs over $1 trillion," McMahon said. "It includes a tax increase that is not indexed to inflation.
" Medicare Advantage, which serves approximately 40% of my seniors on Medicare, would be cut dramatically, leading to significant monthly average premium increases of $130 per person per month," McMahon added.
Republican opposition to the bill was nearly unanimous.
The Senate will now begin debate on the issue.
McMahon, who ran with both Democratic and Conservative party backing in his last campaign, faces reelection next year in a district which voted 51% in favor of McCain/Palin in the 2008 election.
Staten Island has voted for a Democratic presidential nominee only three times since 1952.
In the 2004 presidential election Republican George W. Bush received 57% of the vote in Staten Island and Democrat John Kerry received 42%.
John Signoriello can be contacted by email at siexaminer@yahoo.com
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