Brown: Repeal of health care law ‘pure politics’
The Daily Sentinel – WASHINGTON — “Pure politics,” was the phrase U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, used to describe a pledge by House Republicans to vote to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Wednesday.
Of course, Brown organizing a news conference call with reporters to discuss the potential impact of a repeal of health care reform Wednesday afternoon could also be interpreted as “pure politics,” depending on which side of the aisle a reader sits and votes. As of press time the vote was still ongoing.
Brown was joined by Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, who was born in Ohio, during the conference.
Brown argued the vote was “pure politics” because House Republicans know even if the vote passes, it won’t pass in the US Senate with President Barack Obama likely to veto it. Brown said he felt most Ohioans wanted to hear about job creation and claimed the health care act does just that, particularly in Central Ohio.
Because of the health care act, Brown said The Ohio State University won a $100 million competitive grant made possible by the new law. He claimed this will result in 5,000 construction jobs, 10,000 full-time jobs and 6,000 jobs in the medical center. Because of this, Brown said those US Congress members which vote for the repeal are “voting to take $100 million away from OSU.”
