Published: November 09, 2009 07:31 pm      

Rahall: Quick Senate approval expected for health care overhaul

ATHENS — U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., believes President Barack Obama will have a health care reform bill signed into law before Christmas.

Rahall, who voted in favor of the Affordable Health Care for America Act in the U.S. House of Representatives, said he expects the U.S. Senate to approve the measure before the year’s end.

“I am very proud of the action the House of Representatives has taken,” Rahall said Monday during a stop at Concord University in Mercer County. “Health care costs continue to skyrocket. This legislation I think will finally get it under control.”

While a lengthier debate is expected in the U.S. Senate, Rahall said he still expects Senate approval of a health care reform measure before Christmas.

“I hope to have a bill on the president’s desk by the end of the year,” Rahall said.

If the health care debate were to linger into 2010, passage of the legislation would become more difficult, Rahall said citing the upcoming political season and the mid-term congressional elections.

Rahall, who conducted several town hall meetings across southern West Virginia in August on the topic of health care reform, said he voted to bring an end to the moment when a diagnosis becomes a death sentence for those without health insurance.

The region’s congressional delegation was split on the health care vote in the House. U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Va., voted against the measure out of a concern that a government operated health insurance plan could impact hospitals in Southwest Virginia.

Rahall said the measure approved by the House will help to bring affordable and quality health care insurance to Americans.

— Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com