Critics blast DeWine for health-care vote

From Columbus Dispatch:

Republican Sen. Mike De-Wine is taking heat over his vote yesterday for legislation allowing small businesses to more easily band together to seek lower-priced health coverage.

DeWine joined the Senate Health Committee's other Republicans in the 11-9 party-line committee vote.

Some consumer and healthcare advocates had been lobbying DeWine to vote against the final bill, saying it allows insurers to drop a number of benefits, such as cancer screening, mandated by Ohio and other states.

DeWine last week was the sole Republican to vote for a Democratic amendment requiring those benefits. The amendment failed 10-10 because the GOP committee chairman gets to break ties.

DeWine said in a statement yesterday that he voted for the final bill because while it "is not a perfect bill . . . it provides insurance options for small businesses which they don't have right now."

Critics of the legislation were not appeased.

"DeWine's vote means that the special interests who finance his campaign are one step closer to raising insurance premiums for seniors and ending coverage for things like diabetes, mammography and cancer screenings," said Phil Singer, spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Democratic Rep. Sherrod Brown, of Avon, is running against DeWine this year.

DeWine also was criticized by the American Cancer Society.

"While we appreciate Sen. DeWine's votes for amendments to protect cancer screenings, the American Cancer Society is extremely disappointed that he did not continue this support by voting against this legislation," said Wendy Simpkins, spokeswoman for the group's Ohio division.

"This bill jeopardizes statemandated cancer screenings -- including mammography -- that are key to saving lives."

03/16/2006 / Permalink / Enzi Bill, Health Care, (all tags)