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WASHINGTON - Democratic Rep. Betsy Markey now says she will vote for what she calls a "compromise health reform bill," months after she was one of 39 Democratic House members to vote against an earlier version of the bill.
Her announcement follows the Congressional Budget Office's announcement Thursday morning that the bill will reduce the deficit by $138 billion over its first 10 years -- and it raises the hopes of party leaders looking to pass President Barack Obama's key domestic policy initiative by the weekend.
As one of 39 House members who voted against a health reform bill that passed in November, Markey was intensely courted in recent weeks as Democrats look for 216 votes in support of the new compromise measure, which does not include a 'public option.'
After studying the bill and reviewing the CBO numbers released Thursday morning, Markey said she changed her mind
"I am going to support this bill," Markey said during a Thursday afternoon conference call with reporters. "One of the main reasons is this is the largest deficit reduction bill over the last 25 years. And it's probably the largest deficit-reduction bill that I'll ever have a chance to vote on in Congress."
State Rep. Cory Gardner, who will probably be the Republican challenging Markey for her seat in the fall, wasted no time ripping Markey's reversal on health care.
"The majority of people in her own people don't think that's the way to go," Gardner said. "Only in Washington DC does spending a trillion dollars equate to saving money. It's ironic they're saying this is going to reduce the deficit. A year ago, they were saying the stimulus would create jobs."
The Congressional Budget Office this morning estimated the total 10-year cost of expanding coverage at $940 billion. The nonpartisan analysts said the legislation would reduce the federal deficit by $138 billion over its first 10 years, and continue to drive down the deficit thereafter.
Markey, elected in 2008 to a seat long held by Republicans, faces a tough re-election contest and her stance on the health bill will no doubt become a key issue for her Republican opponents.
"This isn't about politics today," Markey said. "This is about driving down the cost of health care and doing what's right for the people of the fourth congressional district and Colorado."
Her announcement follows the Congressional Budget Office's announcement Thursday morning that the bill will reduce the deficit by $138 billion over its first 10 years -- and it raises the hopes of party leaders looking to pass President Barack Obama's key domestic policy initiative by the weekend.
As one of 39 House members who voted against a health reform bill that passed in November, Markey was intensely courted in recent weeks as Democrats look for 216 votes in support of the new compromise measure, which does not include a 'public option.'
After studying the bill and reviewing the CBO numbers released Thursday morning, Markey said she changed her mind
"I am going to support this bill," Markey said during a Thursday afternoon conference call with reporters. "One of the main reasons is this is the largest deficit reduction bill over the last 25 years. And it's probably the largest deficit-reduction bill that I'll ever have a chance to vote on in Congress."
State Rep. Cory Gardner, who will probably be the Republican challenging Markey for her seat in the fall, wasted no time ripping Markey's reversal on health care.
"The majority of people in her own people don't think that's the way to go," Gardner said. "Only in Washington DC does spending a trillion dollars equate to saving money. It's ironic they're saying this is going to reduce the deficit. A year ago, they were saying the stimulus would create jobs."
The Congressional Budget Office this morning estimated the total 10-year cost of expanding coverage at $940 billion. The nonpartisan analysts said the legislation would reduce the federal deficit by $138 billion over its first 10 years, and continue to drive down the deficit thereafter.
Markey, elected in 2008 to a seat long held by Republicans, faces a tough re-election contest and her stance on the health bill will no doubt become a key issue for her Republican opponents.
"This isn't about politics today," Markey said. "This is about driving down the cost of health care and doing what's right for the people of the fourth congressional district and Colorado."
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