JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton said Thursday that he opposes a government option for health insurance and would vote against the current health care proposals of his fellow Democrats.
Skelton announced his opposition to the various House health care plans during an evening telephone conference call with hundreds of constituents from his western Missouri congressional district.
"Over the past few months, I've been studying health insurance reform very, very carefully," Skelton said in his opening remarks during the call. "I oppose the current House proposals and will vote against them unless they are vastly improved."
His comments came on the same day that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the case is growing stronger for allowing the government to sell health insurance in competition with private companies. Skelton said he fears that could have the unintended consequence of driving private insurers out of business.
Skelton said he also is concerned the House proposals could make large cuts to Medicare and hurt rural health care providers.
"All of us realize there needs to be reform for the health care system in our country," Skelton said during an hour-long question-and-answer forum. "But first and foremost, a health bill must do no harm, and I'm deeply concerned that legislation that is pending might be harmful to folks."
Skelton, who is chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, represents a largely rural and conservative district that sprawls over parts of about two-dozen counties. Although he has easily won election throughout his 32-year congressional career, Republicans are targeting Skelton in 2010 by highlighting his recent pattern of voting with Pelosi and other Democratic leaders.
In August, about 100 people protested outside Skelton's Jefferson City office because Skelton had not held any public forums about the health care proposals. He said at the time that he preferred meeting with people individually and in small groups.
Skelton said Thursday's telephone conference call with constituents was a first for him.
During the call, Skelton took several automated polls of participants. A majority said the economy was the most important issue facing the country, easily beating out the other choices of health care, the war in Afghanistan or abortion.
Asked specifically about health care, slightly more participants said they were satisfied with the current system than said they were concerned about affordable health insurance.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
