Tester: Today’s vote a ‘yes’ to reforming broken health insurance system

(BIG SANDY, Mont.) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester today released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Senate’s historic health care reform bill:

“I join thousands of Montanans and millions of Americans in thanking the House for rounding the final curve and sending this long-overdue legislation to the home stretch.

“Today’s vote was a bold ‘yes’ to reforming our broken health insurance system, controlling health care costs and making Medicare stronger—all while cutting the national deficit by more than a trillion dollars.

“Montana families, small businesses and most importantly, our kids and grandkids, can’t afford Congress doing nothing.  Doing nothing to fix health insurance and control costs has broken too many families.”

Last week Tester spoke on the Senate floor about the need to reform the health insurance industry and curb health care costs, citing dramatic rate hikes in Montana.  Some Montanans, Tester said, face up to 80 percent increases in health insurance this year.