Friday, September 17, 2010

Democrat Rep. Gene Taylor (MS-4) Signs on to Repeal Health Care Bill

This evening I received an energized voice message from my sister informing me that her congressman, Gene Taylor (D-MS) had signed on to Steve King's (R-IA) petition to repeal the health care reform bill, becoming the first Democrat to do so.  Jake Sherman at Politico shares my sister's hunch that this is an important development:
Taylor is the 172nd person to sign on the act to repeal the bill – following conservative Republican Rep. Steve King (Iowa), who offered the act on June 16. The entire House Republican leadership has also signed onto the petition. Taylor is the second person to join the effort to repeal the bill since the August recess, following Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Jim Gerlach.

Taylor underscores how unpopular the legislation is in some conservative districts held by Democrats — although he voted against the bill. Taylor, though, has bucked trends for years, holding onto the Gulf Coast seat since 1989.

He earned some conservative praise for his signature.

“We are pleased to see Representative Gene Taylor choosing principle over party,” Heritage Action CEO Michael A. Needham said in a news release. “His commitment to representing his constituents, who have been opposed to Obamacare from the beginning, is refreshing.”
Indeed.  Congressman Taylor has a long and strong record of voting for principle over politics and listening to his constituents.  Perhaps he will be invited to make the key note address at the 2012 Republican Convention in a reprise of former Georgia Governor, then Senator Zell Miller's stunning performance in 2004:



Read more from Ed Morrissey and The Wall Street Journal here and here.  H/T Leslie!

1 comment:

  1. If you are a truly concerned conservative Tracy, why would you oppose healthcare for people who need it? The healthcare bill is not what I want it to be, but it did allow me the chance to get health coverage which I couldn't get before. I am thankful that this bill passed. Without it, who knows where'd I be. I don't support the individual mandate; I believe like other rational, industrial countries, we should have universal health care coverage. Before you start forming the words to say "socialism" and "communism" please really think about what you're saying. Do you understand those concepts? Or are you just speaking from a fear-based ideology that you're afraid to let go of? No one has the "right" answers about anything in this life. But, we could as nation, try to work together as compassionate people, without the drumbeat of false narratives. I've said my peace. Thanks for letting me comment.

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