Rep. Bart Gordon

WASHINGTON (D.C)-Sixth District Congressman Bart Gordon was one of 39 Democrats who voted against the House health care bill (H.R. 3962) passed by a slim, 220-215 margin on Saturday. 

A news release issued that day by Gordon’s office said he was concerned “about its ability to reduce health care costs.”

Fourth District congressman Lincoln Davis, who represents several area counties in the neighboring district, also voted against the bill, as did fellow Tennessee Democrat congressman John Tanner, published reports say. 

“I firmly believe that any responsible health care bill must do two things: improve access to health care for small businesses and the uninsured, and reduce health care spending,” Gordon said. “This bill does one but not the other, it falls short of sufficiently cutting health care spending.”

The Congressional Budget Office recently evaluated H.R. 3962 and indicated that the bill would not reduce, but instead would increase, the federal government’s spending on health care over the long-term, Gordon’s news release said. 

“Currently, one out of every six dollars is spent on health care in the United States,” said Gordon.  “It’s unsustainable to keep health care spending where it is now. We must decrease the amount of money our country spends on health care.”

Gordon made his decision after studying the bill’s provisions and listening to the concerns of Middle Tennesseans during numerous public forums, telephone town halls, face-to-face meetings, as well as thousands of phone calls and emails since debate on the issue started earlier this year, he said. 

“This process of drafting health care proposals has been both lengthy and healthy.  I’ve received valuable comments and suggestions from the Middle Tennesseans I represent.  However, we still have a long way to go,” said Gordon.  

“Any health care bill that is ultimately signed into law must not increase the federal deficit or our long-term spending on health care.  I am hopeful that the Senate and House can work through the amendment process and conference committee and get to a point where we have a better bill that incorporates bipartisan ideas that I can support.”