Bright Touts His ObamaCare Vote, But He Won’t Vote to Repeal or Defund It

(MONTGOMERY, AL) –   In his latest television ad Bobby Bright touts his vote against health care, but what he doesn’t tell the voters is that he still refuses to support repealing or defunding the job-killing bill that raises taxes, cuts $500 in Medicare funding, and has done nothing to control health care costs.

On numerous occasions Bright has refused to support efforts to repeal and defund the entire bill, going so far as to call it “immature politics.” Recently he said repealing ObamaCare would be bad because “we will go back to the beginning.”

“There is nothing good in this bill that outweighs the negative impact it will have on businesses and individuals across this country,” said Martha Roby, Republican nominee for Alabama’s Second Congressional District. “I believe we need to stop ObamaCare by any means necessary, start over, and pass real health care reform.”

Even one of Bright’s “Blue Dog” Democrat colleagues, Rep. Gene Taylor (D-MS), has now signed on to the effort to repeal the bill. Taylor was lauded for “choosing principle over party” for his step to stop ObamaCare.

“I pledge to support efforts to repeal and defund ALL of ObamaCare. That’s a pledge that my opponent will not make,” said Roby.

Among the efforts to stop ObamaCare are Rep. Steve King’s H.R. 4972 which would fully repeal the bill, and H.R. 5882 which would defund the bill. Bright is standing in the way of allowing Rep. King’s bill to come to the floor for a vote by refusing to sign the discharge petition, which has been signed by 172 of his colleagues.
 
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BACKGROUND

Bobby Bright has stated on multiple occasions that be opposes repealing ObamaCare, calling it “immature politics” and “premature:” 

“There is some good things about (the bill), though, and to say let’s appeal the whole thing is immature politics.” ( “Congressman has Health Care on Mind,”  by Holli Keaton, Troy Messenger, 4/5/10)

“While Rep. Bobby Bright, D-Montgomery voted against the bill he said he is hesitant to jump on board with a full-scale appeal. ‘While I strongly disagree with many aspects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and voted against the bill, I believe it’s premature to discuss repealing a bill that was just passed and has yet to be signed into law by the President,’ he said. ‘A wholesale repeal, or legal challenge, of the bill ignores the fact that this legislation contains some good parts, many of which will go into effect soon.’” (“State may join in lawsuit over health care bill,” by Ryan Charles, Troy Messenger, 3/22/10)

Recently he said repealing ObamaCare would be bad because it would “we will go back to the beginning:”

“Voting to repeal the legislation in its entirety is not a logical next step now that it has passed, he said…The sentiment is one Bright has taken some partisan fire over…‘A lot of folks want to say, ‘Let’s just repeal it,’ but if we do that what will happen is we will go back to the beginning. You don’t know what will really happen and I don’t want to go back through what all we’ve been through over the last 18 months to get to where we are,’ Bright said. ‘If we were to repeal it, it is still not going to kill it. We have to send it over to the president to sign it. He’s not going to sign it. It would take two-thirds of the House and the Senate to override his veto.’” (“Bright responds to residents’ concerns,” by Melissa Braun, The Southeast Sun, 9/8/10)

Bright opposes repealing ObamaCare despite the fact that is has increased health care costs:

“Health insurers say they plan to raise premiums for some Americans as a direct result of the health overhaul in coming weeks, complicating Democrats' efforts to trumpet their signature achievement before the midterm elections.” (“Health Insurers Plan Hikes: Rate Increases Are Blamed on Health-Care Overhaul; White House Questions Logic,” by Janet Adamy, The Wall Street Journal, 9/7/10)

Even one of Bright’s “Blue Dog” colleagues has now signed on to efforts to repeal the bill, which earned him praise for his principled stand:

“Mississippi Rep. Gene Taylor became the first Democrat to sign a petition to repeal his party’s health care overhaul legislation… 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…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.’” (“Mississippi Rep. Gene Taylor signs health care repeal petition,” by Jake Sherman, Politico, 9/15/10)

Yet Bright has refused to support H.R. 4972 or even sign the discharge petition to let the House vote on it: http://clerk.house.gov/111/lrc/pd/petitions/Dis11.htm

And now he’s hearing from his constituents who disapprove of his opposition to repeal…