Murphy backs health reform

“This bill is fundamentally different than the bill we voted on last November,” Murphy said, adding that while the measure “is not perfect,” he feels “much better” about it.

Murphy’s decision ends days of intense speculation about how he would handle the issue, which is a signature piece of President Barack Obama’s agenda and a top priority for congressional Democrats.

Earlier Friday, Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, said he would back the effort because it would curb costs and expand coverage for Capital Region residents.

“The bottom line litmus test for me is whether people in the 21st Congressional District will be better off than they are today,” Tonko said. “And my answer is an emphatic ‘yes.’ “

“Health care costs are skyrocketing, forcing families to decide between paying their insurance bills and paying their mortgage.” Tonko said.

On the flip side, Rep. Michael Arcuri, D-Utica, became the first Democratic former supporter to announce his opposition.

Widely viewed as a potential swing vote, Murphy has been a top lobbying target, meeting for a half-hour with the President at the White House last week. He also had a brief discussion Friday on the House floor with Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

Murphy also has been the subject of a fierce public relations campaign in his 20th Congressional District, where protesters rallied outside his Clifton Park office and ads aired on television.

Ultimately, after studying the 2,000-page-plus final health care bill and spending months discussing the issue with constituents, health care experts and colleagues on Capitol Hill, Murphy said he decided that it was “going to make the system better than what we have now.”

Murphy added: “The bill we (voted on) last year didn’t do that.

Murphy supported changes in the final health care package, including:

A broader distribution of taxes for medical devices so they would apply to foreign suppliers, as well as domestic manufacturers prevalent in Murphy’s district. Medical products that cost less than $100 also are expected to be excluded from the medical devices tax. Murphy had been pushing for the change in discussions with Obama and Pelosi.

A “much more aggressive approach” to slashing Medicare waste and fraud.

For instance, the new bill removes some legal barriers to investigating and prosecuting Medicare fraud and would boost penalties for anyone submitting false claims.

Less “onerous” provisions on small businesses. Among them: requiring employers of more than 50 workers to offer insurance. Murphy said he was pleased by the 50-worker threshold, as well as new tax credits for smaller businesses that offer coverage anyway.

Murphy praised the overhaul’s final price tag, and the expectation it would pare $138 billion in federal deficits over the next decade, based on a preliminary analysis by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office.

Murphy’s decision could cost him support among conservatives in his district, which has until recently been a GOP stronghold. But it was cheered by activists who have been imploring Murphy to support the legislation.

“We are so glad to see him come around and do the fiscally responsible thing with a bill that’s going to drive the deficit down,” said Chris Scoville, Capital District organizer for Citizen Action. “The majority of his district will be very pleased.”

In canvassing constituents and meeting with local business owners, Murphy said he repeatedly heard people say that the current system was unsustainable.

Small-business owners and families “all are struggling with rising health care costs.” People “are frustrated” with the current system and “don’t feel they have control of their health care” decisions, Murphy said.

Right now, he added, the “balance of power” is on the insurance companies’ side.

“We are changing that dynamic” and providing “more power for the doctors and patients to decide,” Murphy said.