WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., voted on Christmas Eve against final passage of the Senate Democrats’ health care bill.  By a vote of 60 to 39, Democrats pushed their health care bill through the last Senate hurdle.  

 “Americans have made it very clear that this isn’t the kind of reform they want,” Wicker said. 

“The approval of this bill was a colossal mistake. This ill-advised measure would drastically expand the government, raise taxes, slash Medicare by $500 billion, increase health care costs, and cripple already cash-strapped states through its unfunded Medicaid expansion. Congressional Democrats seem intent on forcing these so-called reforms on the American public, despite the fact that a clear majority of the country opposes them,” said Wicker.

 “What is also disappointing is the way the Democratic leadership rammed this through Congress by using deals and favors to secure the support of members of their own party. This is a low moment for the Senate and for the American people alike,” Wicker said.

With Senate passage of the legislation, negotiators from the House and Senate will meet in conference to reconcile differences between the Senate and House bills. The conference report must then be approved by both chambers of Congress before it is sent to the President to be signed into law.

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