congressman Boccieri voted against the healthcare bill...

[Sara Bradi]

From the congressman's own press release:

After nearly 150 roundtables and meetings in my district, it's clear that my constituents agree our nation's health care system is in critical need of reform. While I fully support quality, affordable health care coverage for everyone, I am disappointed the House bill sadly does not go far enough to reduce the costs of getting there.

The Affordable Health Care for America Act contains some important regulatory reforms I fought for including prohibiting discrimination against individuals with preexisting conditions, stressing prevention and wellness programs, and capping annual out of pocket costs for patients. While I am pleased the final bill includes these critical provisions, it is clear to me that too many of my constituents share my concern about the cost of this bill and how we pay for it.

From the beginning, I made it clear we should wring all inefficiencies from this highly wasteful system to pay for necessary reforms. Unfortunately this bill does not go far enough to secure my vote.

Our nation has gone through a long, thoughtful, and sometimes emotional debate to improve this bill. I hope when the health care reform bill comes back from the Senate, the concerns of my district are addressed."

Bottomline, he is taking credit for having fought for all the positive things in the bill, but he wants the current bill to go away because it is highly wasteful.

What crock !!!

[Sara Bradi]

1. anyone in Ohio 16th, regret voting for Boccieri ? n/t

[Deep13]

2. I'm in the 13th and my wife and I contributed to his election.

At the time we figured anyone had to be better than Regula. I suppose that's still true. He called my wife at work a few months ago looking for a donation. She gave him an earful about the need for HCR including an aggressive public option. She said her business and other small companies were really struggling to provide health care for the employees.

I guess he crumbled to the insurance industry like aluminum foil anyway.

Next time around, the ATM is closed. We support progressive candidates like Betty Sutton, Sherrod Brown and Jennifer Brunner.

[Sara Bradi]

5. don't forget Kucinich

Dennis has worked tirelessly for HCR, he voted against this bill because he has offered an amendment with a stronger public option.

[OhioBlue]

3. I am in the 16th

I don't regret voting for him - otherwise we would have Schuring.

I am disappointed in his HC vote - but I'm not ready to write him off just yet. No elected official is going to vote the way I want every time.. just wish they would on the big stuff like Health Care reform.

I knew he was anti-choice when I voted for him, but what were my options? An anti-choice Dem or an anti-choice, anti-everything Republican?

I hope he wins in 2010 and I hope that win gives him whatever he needs to start being a true progressive leader in our district. We need it. If the Republican wins... it will suck a lot more.

[Sara Bradi]

4. Boccieri not a progressive

I don't feel he is a progressive.

The Health Care Reform vote is probably the most important vote of this generation, and he chose to stand on the wrong side of the issue.

He rode the anti-republican wave of discontent into the halls of congress, and then abandoned his base so he can make up talking points for his 2010 bid.

[Guilded Lilly]

6. I am in his district and I sent him a letter

saying how disappointed I was in his voting and that I was sorry that I had campaigned for him.

I got this reply:
(and my reply back follows)

Dear Mrs.(XXXXXXX)

After nearly 150 roundtables and meetings in my district, it's clear that my constituents, small business owners and health care professionals agree our nation's health care system is in critical need of reform. While I fully support quality, affordable health care coverage for everyone, I am disappointed the House bill sadly does not go far enough to reduce the costs of getting there.

The Affordable Health Care for America Act contains some important regulatory reforms I fought for including prohibiting discrimination against individuals with preexisting conditions, stressing prevention and wellness programs, and capping annual out of pocket costs for patients. While I am pleased the final bill includes these critical provisions, it is clear to me that too many of my constituents share my concern about the cost of this bill and how we pay for it.

The issue of abortion has divided our nation for too long. We all must come together to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies. While I feel that federal tax dollars should pay for abortions only in the case of rape, incest and the life of the mother, I voted for the Stupak Amendment to maintain current law reflected in the Hyde Amendment. The Amendment states that no federal dollars pay for abortion except in those rare circumstances in the public option or public plan, and for those private plans where federal dollars will be used to pay for premiums. However, the Amendment states that the private plans may offer the choice of a plan that includes abortion services so long as administrative costs and all services offered through such plan is paid for using only premiums collected for such coverage.

As a father of three daughters I have a great respect for the rights of women and as my voting record shows I support funding family planning and support comprehensive sexual education.

Our nation has gone through a long, thoughtful, and sometimes emotional debate to improve this bill. I hope when the health care reform bill comes back from the Senate, the concerns of our district are addressed.

Sincerely,

John Boccieri
Member of Congress


My reply:

Re: A Message from Congressman Boccieri
From: [e-mail]
To: [e-mail]
Date: Fri, Nov 20, 2009 12:34 am

I thank-you for your thoughtful reply.Truly, I appreciate it more than you can imagine.

I am going to have to part ways with your thinking about the Stupak-Pitts amendment, as I think it is a poorly hidden, insidious attempt to control (and take away) women's rights to control their own bodies...and the continuing safety of their bodies regarding any kind of reproductive health.

With the state of the country as it is, and the truly hideous efforts so many Republicans have made that show such an ugly lack of character and common decency i am still very disappointed that on this essential start to getting the ball rolling towards better health care, you chose not to support the Democratic Party. This bill does not go far enough, but it certainly will go NOWHERE, ever, if we cannot get our party's elected officials to make a stand. The final healthcare bill will go through many changes, I am sure. No one will get exactly what they want. Compromise is a frustrating but real part of politics in this country. However, to go against the Democratic plan even before it had a chance to BE debated and tweaked, disappointed me deeply. And to vote for the Stupak-Pitts amendment to be included when the Hyde amendment is already in place, really stunned me. It is NOT the same thing. It was thrown in at the last minute for political reasons only.

Women are already unfairly targeted by insurance companies simply because they ARE women. If I had my wishes, abortion would be totally covered by insurance. Through my insurance premiums I help pay for many illnesses that people suffer through no fault of mine or that have nothing to do with the personal lifestyle I have chosen. But I pay into that big *pot* because it is the generous spirit of human-to-human that we must embrace. .I believe every effort should be made to keep a child to full term if possible. If not, women should choose to do what they feel is best for their life and should be able to rely on Health Insurance to protect them. Last time I checked, no woman got into that situation without the very intimate inclusion of a man, and yet it is the woman who is repeatedly held accountable and made to suffer financially and physically concerning pregnancy. We should NOT have to pay extra for any policy that is definitely NOT a situation that we create on our own.

I am glad to hear you repeat that you are respectful of women's rights. They are being sadly eroded. We must take a stand, we women, and we must back men with the intellect and courage to take up our fights for us in our absence of power.

Again, I appreciate your thoughtful reply, I just do not agree.
Sincerely,
X.X.xxxxxxxxx.

[Sara Bradi]

7. you nailed it !

did you notice, the reply you received from his office was a copy of their press release.

So much for listening to his constituents.

[Guilded Lilly]

9. I'm pretty sure he expected some flack

and had a prepared statement made for mass production.

I know he ran locally as a dedicated family man, but to say you respect women's rights and then vote as he did just points out to me that he doesn't have the same definition of respect that I do regarding rights.

We are in a no win situation actually. Voting for the Republican or other candidates would be cutting off our nose to spite our face. So we go for the candidate who matches most with our needs.
He is a *newbie* so to speak so there is a bit of grace given.

But I intend from here on out to voice my opinion in a civil way to any lawmaker who falls short of the mark in general terms. Voting against your party on such a preliminary step seemed unwise, and a little less than foreward thinking~!

[Sara Bradi]

10. we need a primary challenger to Boccieri

Tim Carpenter from PDA (progressive dems of America), is constantly picking on dems who are not supporting the health care legislation, he should be recruiting candidates to run against the likes of Boccieri in a primary.

Incumbent Regula had a primary challenger in 2006.

"In the May 2006 GOP primary, Regula defeated conservative challenger Matt Miller, an Ashland County commissioner, by only less than 16 percent of the district's vote. In his 17th term in Congress, Regula, 81, campaigned largely based on his position as vice chairman of the Appropriations Committee. Miller stated the district needs a new face.

Regula will face Democrat Thomas Shaw of Wooster in the 2006 general election."

http://en.allexperts.com/e/r/ra/ralph_regula.htm

[OhioBlue]

11. you really can't compare the primary challenge by Miller

of Regula to a potential primary challenge of Boccieri

Regula had years and years of goodwill built up in the district. Boccieri is a freshman.

Miller was working on making a name for himself. He is running again. there was little risk to the R party in Miller's mind - if Regula wins, he is a sure win. If Miller wins, well... he would probably would have won too against such a weak dem. I never even saw Shaw in '06 and I was very involved in the local party. He didn't even show up to his own County's JJ dinner that year. I know. I visited.

Boccieri isn't perfect and he made a mistake for sure - but we shouldn't write him off. His letter was a form letter - pretty much, they all are. We all know this. At least some have the decency to reply. Some don't. When I lived it the 5th, I don't think I ever got even a form letter reply.

Boccieri's office has been very accessible - more so than even Regula's (who for all his faults - did at least seem committed to being involved). I have also had several personal replies from JB's office on things.

We don't have a perfect Congressman. But we do have a Dem that is a hard worker and has a really great staff. Question is.. what do we want to trade that for? I sure don't want another R. And... I haven't heard of ANY primary challenger that is viable. So I'm gonna be pragmatic and stick with Boccieri this year and next. I'll still write him, call his office, etc. to voice my opinion, but I am not going to turn against him. We have bigger enemies, and they like to attend tea parties. like Miller.

[Sara Bradi]

12. I am sorry but Boccieri's explanation is not good enough

(on edit, corrected typos)

Shaw's father or father-in-law passed away a few weeks before the election, that family struggled to return to the campaign trail from that devastating loss. I am not trying to justify his absence at the JJ dinner, just informing you of what happened.

Coming to the topic at hand, if Boccieri was unhappy with the health care reform bill in its current form, then I want him to specifically state what it would take to get his support.

A vague statement like "the cost cuts don't go far enough to earn my vote", is another way of saying we are too stupid to understand his high & mighty personal ambition.

He is taking the democratic votes in his district for granted, and he is playing political theater, with OUR Health Care Reform, to attract republican & independent votes.

There is nothing wrong with a congressman wanting to have broad voter support, but to do so by sacrificing your party's core platform is DECEPTION, BETRAYAL & SKULLDUGGERY. In my humble opinion.

Yes, every politician on God's green earth would love nothing better than to reduce taxes to 0% and provide everything to everyone for free, for some odd reason that doesn't work out in the real world.

He made a political calculation with OUR HEALTH CARE, and he made a HUGE MISTAKE !

During his campaign Boccieri used pictures of himself as a pilot, transporting then Senator Clinton, in Iraq. Bill Clinton did a robo call for Boccieri. You get a lot of traction with voters when you receive endorsements from ex-presidents and national candidates like Hillary.

Health Care Reform cost Bill & Hillary dearly 15 years ago, they nearly had their political limbs amputated by the likes of Newt Gingrich because of their support for health care reform.

And what does JB do after getting elected to congress with the support of many democratic political heavyweights ?

SLAP Bill & Hillary in their face by voting against health care reform !

Think about it.

[Sara Bradi]

8. here is a copy of the press release that was sent to you

as a personal letter :


http://boccieri.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=276&Itemid=64

[Sara Bradi]

13. priceless !

this reader comment in the Canton Repository, perfectly summarizes John Boccieri (I'm paraphrasing)

John is working on his resume right now. He'll get back to you real soon.

Boccieri wants to learn more about President’s Afghanistan plan

http://www.cantonrep.com/communities/alliance/x1945277311/Boccieri-wants-to-learn-more-about-President-s-Afghanistan-plan

Look for a comment by csdunson at the end.