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S.I. Rep. In Trouble After Voting No On Health Care
By
Ben Muessig
Published Mar 23, 2010
Modified Mar 23, 2010
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By
Ben Muessig
Published Mar 23, 2010
Modified Mar 23, 2010
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Despite a "high-level arm-twisting campaign" by the Democratic party, Rep. Mike McMahon (D-Staten Island) voted against health care reform. And though the vote won him the respect of some Republicans, the White House wants to make him pay, according to the Daily News.
In an attempt to sway McMahon—whose opposition to the bill the first time around had reportedly won him the support of his conservative constituents—top Democrats confronted the first-term Congressman at a fundraising event and told him they'd only help him raise cash in his re-election effort if he voted yes. "The message was that a 'no' vote could cause you a problem in the fall, but the other side of it was we can help you raise money," an anonymous source told the tabloid.
McMahon then received an "issue-oriented" call from vocal health care supporter Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Queens). Insiders say the political pressure didn't come from Speaker Nancy Pelosi, but rather it was a "Cook County Democratic organization operation"—a reference to President Obama's Chicago roots. Either way, anger at McMahon has reportedly trickled down to unions that endorsed him in his first Congressional campaign. "He's going to lose in November, and I'm going to enjoy helping make it happen," said a union leader.
McMahon defended his vote in a Post editorial:
I believe we need to reform our health-care system, but this legislative package is not the way to do it. We must contain the costs of health care and not hurt our local hospitals and doctors. The bill doesn't go far enough, in my mind, to hold the hospitals of my district harmless from future cuts, nor does it guarantee to hold down costs for those with insurance.
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health care
health care overhaul
health care reform
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rep. mike mcmahon
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Ben Muessig
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