In response to the news that Rep. Baron Hill would vote for President Obama’s health care reform in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce before Friday, Indiana Republicans Thursday questioned Hill’s change of heart.

“On Tuesday, Rep. Hill said he couldn’t support this legislation because it didn’t control costs,” pointed out Indiana Republican Party Chairman Murray Clark. “Yet on Wednesday, after hours of closed-door meetings with Democrat leaders, he announced he was ready to support it in committee. The bill has not substantially changed, and it still doesn’t control costs. It’s a great smoke-and-mirrors routine, but Baron Hill is ignoring the ugly reality of how this legislation will not help Hoosiers.”

Clark noted that despite the compromises Hill and other so-called Blue Dog Democrats reached with party leaders, the bill is essentially the same.

“Baron Hill’s compromise really just ends up compromising the freedoms of Hoosiers,” said Clark. “The bill still keeps a tax on small business while only exempting a handful, it still spends close to $1 trillion and will result in tax increases, and it still allows the federal government to recklessly take over health care. Republicans agree that we need some kind of reform, but not at the expense of Americans losing the freedom to choose when and where they receive medical treatment. Rationed care and a decline in the quality of care are not the answers.”

Hill reaffirmed his support in committee for the legislation Thursday morning on MSNBC’s Morning Joe program. In addition, Hill noted that Democrats are shutting Republicans out of negotiations on the bill.

“We’ve not had any discussions or negotiations with Republicans,” Hill told host Joe Scarborough. “We invite Republicans to be a part of the solution to our health care problems that we have, but we’ve not had any negotiations with them.”

Clark said he wasn’t surprised the Democrats were shutting out Republicans, despite their claims they want a bipartisan bill.

“President Obama told us he’d usher in a new era of bipartisanship in Washington, but he and his own party are engaging in business as usual,” said Clark. “Despite the fact that Republicans have offered an alternative plan, Baron Hill and his Democrat colleagues seem to be deaf to their concerns.”

The article in which Hill expressed concerns with controlling costs on Tuesday can be found by clicking here.
The article in which Hill announced his intention to vote for the legislation in committee on Wednesday can be found by clicking here.
The article with Hill’s quote from Morning Joe can be found by clicking here.
An outline of the Republican plan for health care can be found by clicking here.

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