As President Obama signs healthcare reform into law, Castle remains mute on whether he would repeal the bill
Yesterday, President Obama signed historic legislation extending access to health insurance to the 40 million uninsured Americans, including more than 100,000 Delawareans who lack insurance.
Delaware’s lone Representative, Mike Castle, opposed the bill in November and again on Sunday, joining with the rest of his caucus in a strict party-line vote. Though Castle claimed in his official release that there was a lack of bipartisanship in the process, the bill passed by Congress actually included hundreds of amendments sponsored by Republicans (whitehouse.gov).
“Castle has already shown he is completely beholden to his caucus, with votes to defeat this health reform bill, the recovery act, and even a recent bill to bring more jobs to Delaware,” said Katie Ellis, Communications Director for the Delaware Democratic Party. “Now that key members of his caucus have vowed to repeal the bill, will Castle stand with them or middle-class Delawareans? Delaware voters have a right to know Castle’s position on this issue.”
The bill, which passed the House of Representatives on Sunday and was enacted by the President yesterday, prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions, eliminates lifetime caps on coverage, and allows children to stay on their parents’ health insurance through the age of 26. Additionally, it provides tax credits to small businesses and families to help them afford coverage, reduces costs for Medicare drug benefits, and creates a new insurance exchange to foster competition and drive down prices among insurance companies.
Castle’s primary opponent, Christine O’Donnell, has already vowed to repeal the legislation if elected (repealit.org). On Monday, Castle hosted an elite fundraiser with Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), during which Hatch also called for parts of the bill to be repealed (Delaware Politics, 3/22/10). Castle’s Democratic opponent, Chris Coons, released a statement saying he would have proudly supported the bill.
