Should Congress Repeal the Healthcare Reform Bill?

The Republican leadership in Congress today started its first round of arguments to repeal President Barack Obama’s health care reform bill.

And although polls show that Americans roundly feel the bill will add to the national deficit, fewer than 18 percent want to see the bill repealed entirely, according to an ABC News/Washington Post poll.

In the 10th Congressional District representing Bed-Stuy, some of the provisions of Obama’s health care reform law already have taken affect – at least 10,400 more Bed-Stuy residents than before have coverage – and a repeal of the current bill would serve to strip them away, according to Congressman Ed Towns.

“The current health care bill needs work; it’s just a start. But still, it represents a good foundation,” said Towns. “Already, it has done some beneficial things for the district.”

Towns will speak on the House floor today, in support of most of the provisions of the current bill, which he says will have a significant, positive and long-term impact on his district.

According to Julian Phillips, communications director for Rep. Towns, the current bill will impact the residents of Bedford-Stuyvesant in the following ways:

• Prevent 500 families from filing bankruptcy
• Extend 117,000 tax credits to families
• Create 11,000 more private sector jobs
• Provide 37,500 more people with coverage

Additionally, according to Phillips, 10,400 Bed-Stuy residents with pre-existing conditions now receive coverage where they did not have it before. And the Bed-Stuy Family Health Center, along with 30 other health centers will receive increased funding to provide improved care for its patients.

However, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released on Monday, the key to the public support for repealing the new health care law is among independent voters who want it taken off the books 54 - 37 percent. Republicans agree 83 - 12 percent, while Democrats support the health care reform 76 - 16 percent. White voters support repeal 56 - 37 percent, while black voters say let the law stand 75 - 15 percent and Hispanics want to keep the law 51 - 28 percent.

"The Republicans pushing repeal of the health care law have more American people on their side. They may not have the votes in the Senate, but they have many on Main Street," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "While President Obama's poll rating has improved in recent weeks, the coalition against his health care plan remains and is quite similar to the one that existed when his numbers were at their nadir."

However, Towns’ office tends to side more with the ABC News poll, believing that, although many people fear the bill in its current state could hurt the economy, most would prefer to see changes within the bill, as opposed to doing away with it entirely.

“It’s not a perfect bill, just as Social Security was not perfect when it first came out,” said Towns. “But it’s certainly a good start to get the ball rolling. A total repeal of it would be counterproductive and only do more harm than good.”