DPNM Chair Praises Senate Health Care Vote

For Immediate Release
December 24, 2009

Washington, DC – Today, in an historic Christmas Eve vote, the Senate voted to pass the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The bill passed with unanimous support from Democrats despite weeks of Republican stall tactics and attempts to keep the bill from coming to a vote. In response, Democratic Party of New Mexico Chair Javier Gonzales released the following statement:

“Today’s vote marks an historic moment in the decades-long struggle to pass comprehensive health reform. This is the most significant development in domestic policy since Social Security was created – it is the largest expansion of coverage since Medicare and the greatest deficit reduction package passed in the last decade.

“The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will end decades of unfair insurance industry practices that have hurt New Mexicans, provide quality, affordable options for the uninsured and will reduce costs for families, businesses and the country as a whole. It will expand coverage to more than 30 million Americans while reducing the deficit by more than $130 billion in the next 10 years.

“This bill is a clear victory for New Mexicans. It will deliver on the promises President Obama has made since the health care debate began – reducing costs, providing quality, affordable choices for the uninsured and providing stability and security for those who already have coverage.

"I commend Senator Bingaman and Udall's leadership on this historic moment for Americans and New Mexicans. With their hard work 125,000 additional New Mexicans will have medicare coverage and 230,000 will be able to get eligibility credits, stopping insurers from refusing coverage due to pre-existing conditions, and granting permanent reauthorization for IHS to fulfill the nation's treaty obligations to provide health care to more than 1.9 million members of tribes nationwide."

“While the legislation received unanimous support from Democrats, it passed without a single Republican vote. Sadly, the Republican Party have shown once again they will stop at nothing to see the President fail. As we approach the 2010 elections, Republicans will need to explain to voters why they have chosen to side with the health insurance executives over New Mexican families.

“So today we thank President Obama and Senators Bingaman and Udall for their strong leadership on this issue and continue to offer our support as they move closer than ever to making comprehensive health insurance reform a reality for New Mexicans.”