U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre was the only Democrat in North Carolina’s congressional delegation to side with Republicans in voting Jan. 19 to overturn President Barack Obama’s health care reform bill.
In the initial vote for the reform package in March, three of the Tar Heel State’s self-described centrist Democrats opposed it — McIntyre of the 7th district, Larry Kissell of the 8th district, and Heath Shuler of the 11th district. But McIntyre was the lone outlier in voting for a Republican-initiated effort to scrap the law and start over from scratch. He was one of only three Democrats backing repeal.
In a largely party-line decision, the House voted 245-189 to pass H.R. 2. North Carolina’s six Republican representatives, including freshman lawmaker Renee Ellmers of the 2nd Congressional District, backed the bill.
Kissell and McIntyre joined with Republicans and two other Democrats Jan. 7 to vote in favor of a rule to allow a full vote on the repeal legislation. Quoted in The Hill, Kissell indicated that he supported bringing the repeal bill up for a vote, but would still oppose the measure when it was on the floor.
In a statement emailed to Carolina Journal earlier this month, Shuler signaled his opposition to repealing the reforms and called some aspects of the law “very good.”
“Parents can keep their kids on their insurance till they’re 26, it’s helping to close the donut hole for seniors, and children with pre-existing conditions can no longer be denied access to coverage,” he said. “I think it is not just wrong, but immoral to take those things away.”
Peace College political science professor David McLennan said that Kissell and Shuler made a calculated decision to oppose repeal efforts due to the popularity of some aspects of the bill. He added that both lawmakers are betting the issue won’t be as pressing in 2012, when they face re-election.
“It comes across to me as something very strategic on the part of Kissell and Shuler,” McLennan said. “In terms of McIntyre, it seems that consistency is important to him. It may be that he has true ideological reasons for not supporting the health care plan. He believes there is a better health care plan. The other two seem to be saying it’s worth their time to stick with the president and with the Democratic leadership.”
During debate on the House floor yesterday, several members of the North Carolina delegation voiced either their support or displeasure with the repeal bill.
“I can usually see both sides of an issue, but for the life of me, I can’t see what Republicans are trying to achieve but to score political points with their right-wing base,” said Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-1st.
“Voters rejected the ‘government-knows-best’ philosophy in November,” said Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-5th. “In contrast, Republicans believe that American innovation and reduced government control are keys to successful health reform that reduces health care costs.”
The repeal bill now goes to the Senate, where Democrats maintain a 47-53 majority. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has said he has no plans to allow the full Senate to consider the bill.
David N. Bass is an associate editor of Carolina Journal.