Spratt defends health care vote amid GOP charges: Congressman wants more changes, Republican opponent slams vote

Matt Garfield
WASHINGTON, Nov 11, 2009 (The Herald - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --

Calling the health care bill approved Saturday by House lawmakers "a long way from perfect," U.S. Rep. John Spratt defended his support and vowed to work for more changes.

"I voted to send it to the Senate in the hope that a conference will iron out the differences and make the bill better," Spratt said in a message to supporters.

The vote drew swift condemnation from state Sen. Mick Mulvaney, Spratt's first and, so far, only challenger in next year's midterm elections. The Republican from Indian Land blasted Spratt for going along with his national party.

"There may have been a time when John Spratt would not have allowed this to happen without a fight," Mulvaney said. "Those days are apparently gone."

Spratt: Don't believe claims

Spratt portrayed the government's role as more limited than opponents lead the public to believe.

He says the bill's main proposal is to create an exchange that lets uninsured Americans benefit from group rates, competitive pricing and lower administrative costs.

The government would set up the exchanges and oversee their operation, but private insurance companies would run the day-to-day business of underwriting insurance, says Spratt. A newly-created, government-run option would have to follow rules just like private insurance companies, he says.

"Though it is not without problems, 'Affordable Health Care for America' is not the 'monstrosity' Mick Mulvaney portrays," Spratt said.

Late Saturday night, Spratt joined 218 Democrats and one Republican in voting for the House bill. The focus now moves to the Senate, where Majority Leader Harry Reid said he will introduce legislation next week.

Mulvaney calls it the biggest expansion of government in history. He took aim at a provision that would subject Americans to fines -- and possible jail time -- for failing to buy insurance.

Citing the possibility of five-year jail sentences, Mulvaney said, "Is that really what this country is coming to?"

Spratt did not specify what changes he wants, but has said in the past he wants to find more savings to keep the legislation deficit-neutral. Spratt voted for the Stupak amendment, which bars any insurance plan covered with government subsidies from covering abortions.

The race is on

The dustup represents the first skirmish in what is likely to be a heated contest over the next 12 months. Since formally announcing last week, the sharp-spoken Mulvaney has sought to cast Spratt as a party loyalist beholden to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

It's a familiar charge for Spratt, chairman of the House Budget Committee. Supporters say Republicans have tried to link Spratt to everyone from Tip O'Neill to Ted Kennedy in past elections.

The challenge now belongs to Mulvaney, 42, who served a term in the state House before moving to the Senate last year. The Georgetown University-educated developer lives in Indian Land with his wife, Pam, and their 9-year-old triplets.

Mulvaney says he decided to run after sensing frustration toward Spratt at a packed town hall event over the summer. Not so, says Spratt, claiming he heard Mulvaney has been eyeing the race for three years.

Election watchers say unseating Spratt will be tough, but Mulvaney might have picked a good year to try.

Amid dissatisfaction with President Obama and Congressional Democrats, Spratt could face a similar race to 1994, when he narrowly defeated Larry Bigham in a midterm election, an analyst from the Cook Political Report said last week.

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