Democratic Reps Diana DeGette (CO) and John Boccieri (OH) defend health care law on campaign trail

[ProSense]

Hoyer, DeGette visit Denver Health to highlight reform

By Anthony Bowe
THE COLORADO STATESMAN

The mood was celebratory as Congresswoman Diana DeGette, D-CD 1, allowed doctors to show off one of her favorite health institutions to a colleague she calls her boss.

DeGette and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, toured the emergency center at Denver Health Medical Center Tuesday after trumpeting the benefits of the Affordable Care Act signed by President Obama in March.

Surrounded by hospital staff, DeGette thanked Denver’s safety-net hospital and community center for inspiring her and congressional Democrats who pushed through the health care reform legislation.

“Denver Health is also going to get a lot of help from this bill to get more resources to the community health centers, which is the best place not only to treat most illnesses but to prevent illnesses for people who are uninsured,” said DeGette, who was elected to congress in 1996.

<...>

Health Care Weighs Heavy in Ohio Race

By KEVIN SACK
Published: September 10, 2010

LOUISVILLE, Ohio — As Representative John Boccieri traversed his district during the Congressional recess, from Mike’s-Milann’s restaurant to Metzger’s Ace Hardware to the Danbury assisted-living home, he was trailed by the vote he cast on March 21 in favor of the Democratic health care bill. And by the vote he cast on Nov. 7 against it.

<...>

Mr. Boccieri, 41, deferentially let them have their say. “Is it everything that I wanted?” he would ask. “No. But we’ve got to start somewhere.”

Until last year, Ohio’s 16th District had been represented by bring-home-the-bacon Republicans for 51 years. The retirement of Representative Ralph Regula after 18 terms presented an opening for Mr. Boccieri, a centrist state senator who had been a minor-league outfielder and an Air Force Reserve pilot with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2008, he won the general election by 10 percentage points while Mr. Obama lost the district by 2.

This year, Mr. Boccieri faces Jim Renacci, a businessman and former small-town mayor who supports repeal of the health law. Mr. Renacci has yet to advertise about Mr. Boccieri’s vote — his first commercial was all about jobs — but he is not reluctant to raise it.

more

Profiles in courage.

[ProSense]

1. No comment? n/t

[CitizenLeft]

2. good for Boccieri

He's been ridiculed by rightwing radio freaks in Akron, his district. He's got guts, good for him.

[PBS Poll-435]

3. Rec'd to 0

:shrug: