GOP hopefuls blast Foster's yes vote on health bill

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Three Republican challengers to U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Batavia, blasted his vote in support of a sweeping health care bill and one said Foster would not be re-elected because of it.

Foster voted yes this weekend on The Affordable Health Care for America Act, which Foster said will begin to reduce health care costs among other benefits to constituents. The measure passed 220 to 215 and has now gone to the U.S. Senate.

"This legislation, while not perfect, included many of the principles that I believe to be critical in improving how Americans receive health insurance," Foster said. "I am pleased that the bill gets rid of pre-existing conditions and lifetime limits on insurance coverage ... Not only is the bill paid for, it will reduce the deficit."

Republican hopefuls Mark Vargas of Elgin, Jim Purcell of Batavia and State Senator Randall Hultgren, R-Wheaton, all condemned Foster.

"I predict that vote will cost him his seat," Purcell said. "I’m running for Congress to provide a clear contrast for voters fed up with Bill Foster’s left-wing socialist viewpoint. Bill Foster is one liberal mistake that needs to be corrected as soon as possible. ”

Hultgren decried the bill as putting "a bureaucrat between you and your doctor" and not lowering health care costs.

And Vargas said the district is united against "government-run health care."

"Massive, inefficient programs like a government takeover of the health care industry are not the answers Illinois voters are looking for," Vargas said. "His votes have betrayed his constituents. Foster proved his alliance with the hard left and (Speaker) Nancy Pelosi."

The three are among a field of five seeking the GOP nomination Feb. 2, 2010. The other two are Jeffrey Danklefsen of Geneva and Ethan Hastert of Elburn. Ethan Hastert is a son of former speaker Dennis Hastert. Foster is serving in the Hastert's former seat.

Gabby Adler, Midwestern Regional Press Secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, dismissed the Republican hopefuls' comments as "myths and lies" to scare constituents.

"But it's not working," Adler said. "Voters across the political spectrum continue to place their trust in Bill Foster to support common sense solutions to deliver real health insurance reform, turn our economy around and get our country back on track. Illinois families know that health insurance reform is a key component of a long term economic recovery for workers and businesses, and encouraged Congressman Foster to support this legislation.”

Alder said Republicans are misrepresenting the bill, especially characterizing it as socialistic or a government takeover.

"Even former Republican Senate Majority Leader and heart surgeon Bill Frist R-Tenn., disputes their claims," Adler said
 
“…what the Obama Administration is doing is not socialized medicine," Frist was quoted saying last month on Washington Journal, a program on CSPAN. "You hear a lot of people on the extreme say that socialized medicine is going to come in and control everything. Socialized medicine is where the government owns the hospitals. They own the doctors and they decide how much people are getting paid. And that’s not what’s in these bills."

Alder said the Democratic plans would leave the current system of private insurance in place while increasing regulation for insurance companies, Adler said.

"One aspect still up in the air is the public option, a health insurance plan that would be run by the government. People could choose whether to enroll in the public option."

She said an estimated 12 million would use the public option, according to the Congressional Budget Office.


 

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