Georgia Dems who voted against health bill fear costs -- and potentially, constituents

By Bob Keefe

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

WASHINGTON -- The only two Democrats from Georgia who voted against their party's health reform legislation in the U.S. House have voiced concerns with the plans for months.

They also represent districts that are under heavy threat from Republicans, and they would have certainly faced tough questions from conservative constituents if they had voted for the $1.2 trillion health reform plan.

Of Georgia's six Democrats in the U.S. House, only Reps. Jim Marshall of Macon and John Barrow voted against their party's bill late Saturday. In all, 39 House Democrats voted against the plan and one Republican voted for it, resulting in its 220-215 passage.

"Fixing the broken health care system is one of the most important issues of this generation, and it's one of the reasons I came to Congress," Barrow said in a statement. "But this bill costs too much, doesn't regulate the insurance companies enough and doesn't reform the system in a way to make health care sustainable."

Both Barrow and Marshall are members of the congressional Blue Dog Coalition of fiscally conservative Democrats, which earlier this year complained loudly about the high costs of their party's health care reform plans. U.S. Reps. David Scott of Atlanta and Sanford Bishop of Albany also are members of the Blue Dog Coalition, but voted for the bill.

"Costs are through the roof," Marshall said, according to the Web site of Macon television station WMAZ-13. "I think we can expand access, maybe improve quality but maintain quality and control costs if we head in a slightly different direction."

While both Marshall and Barrow have said they're concerned about the high cost of the health care plan, they also have reason to be concerned about their job security.

Marshall's district has been coveted by Republicans for years. It voted overwhelmingly for Republican presidential candidate John McCain in 2008.

Barrow's district voted for Obama, but also has a strong Republican base. In July, the National Republican Congressional Committee included Barrow's district among the 70 on its target list for 2010.

Barrow and Marshall's votes against their party's bill could win them favor with Republicans when they're up for reelection in November. But their votes could also cost them points with Democratic party leaders.

At the White House on Sunday, President Barack Obama acknowledged the heat many congressional Democrats are facing over the health reform plan.

"Given the heated and often misleading rhetoric surrounding this legislation, I know that this was a courageous vote for many members of Congress," Obama said. "I'm grateful to them and for the rest of their colleagues for taking us this far."

In a statement, Barrow said he hopes the Senate can bring down the costs of the health reform bill as it takes up consideration of it next.

"We need real reform that drives down costs and actually makes health care more affordable for everyone, not just a temporary fix that has employers, small businesses, and some individuals footing the bill for everyone else," Barrow said.

"I hope the Senate is able to pass a bill that does a better job of accomplishing these goals, and that we’ll have a chance to vote on something that works," he said.