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[Buck McKeon] – U.S. Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon voted in favor of H.J.Res. 59, the short-term continuing resolution that will keep the government open after the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2013. The bill also includes the text of H.R. 2682, the Defund Obamacare Act of 2013, and H.R. 807, the Full Faith and Credit Act. The legislation continues funding for government programs and services at the current, post sequestration annual rate until December 15, 2013. This rate of funding will remain in place for the length of the continuing resolution, or until Congress approves the annual Appropriations legislation for fiscal year 2014. H.J. Res passed the House on a vote of 230-189.

“The reality of governing is that when you take a vote, it is rarely a black or white, yes or no situation,” said McKeon, R-Santa Clarita. “All too often, you are faced with a scenario where you have to choose to do what you think is the best option in an all-around tough situation. I believe we must get off the treadmill of funding the government through stop-gap continuing resolutions. We need to restore regular order, bring our spending under control, and get both the House and the Senate working together to pass yearly budget and appropriations bills that execute our priorities for the country and bring certainty back to our economy.

“However, there are no winners in a government shutdown. We can’t default on our debt- instead we should work hard to eliminate it. We put our economy, our national security and our most vulnerable at risk when we in Washington can’t do our most fundamental job for the American people. This CR gives us time to solve the urgent fiscal issues facing our nation. However, that only the case if we actually work to find solutions. We need to fix the sequestration cuts that are devastating our military, implement real spending reforms and put in place policies that grow our economy and create jobs.

“From the moment Obamacare was introduced, the American people have expressed concerns about the impacts it would have on the cost and quality of care, our economy and the national debt. While no one can argue that our healthcare system isn’t in need of serious reforms, a big-government law that will add trillions to our debt, increase healthcare costs, raise taxes and kill jobs is not the way to go. It has become increasingly clear that Obamacare is already hurting businesses, workers, seniors, taxpayers and our already fragile economy. I want families to be able to make their own choices in health care, visit the doctor of their choosing, and receive the health care they and their doctor feel is best. I want to protect patients with pre-existing conditions and young adults, and most importantly, I want to work to find solutions that make health care more affordable for all Americans. But a law that takes away patient choice, recklessly cuts Medicare, raises taxes, prohibits job creation and adds trillions to our already unsustainable deficit is not sound policy and it’s not the way to fix our healthcare problems.”

Response from McKeon’s prospective Democratic challenger in the 2014 election, Lee Rogers:

Today, Representative Howard “Buck” McKeon voted to stop funding the government unless the Affordable Care Act is dumped. Not only has McKeon been a part of 41 other unsuccessful attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, but now he says if it’s not dismantled, we should shut down the government. This bill has no chance of passing the Senate and it’s only 10 days before the government funding stops.

Because McKeon’s bill is not a serious budget proposal, unless he concedes, it will surely result in a government shutdown. This is an irresponsible vote that illustrates an important contrast between Representative McKeon and his opponent, Dr. Lee Rogers.

While the Affordable Care Act is not a perfect bill, it should be fixed, not scrapped. It is already helping patients and keeps insurance companies in check so that you can’t get thrown off your plan if you get sick. You can’t be prevented from obtaining insurance if you have a pre-existing condition. It mandates 85% of insurance company profits to be spent on actual health care.

In recent years, Congress only governs from crisis to crisis. But what’s most appalling is that these crises are often created by Congress. Our district deserves better than a Congressman who – unless he gets his way on rejecting health care benefits for millions of Americans – will take hostage our troops’ pay, national parks, the federal judicial system, and workers who process Social Security payments.

Dr. Lee Rogers is a nationally-renowned doctor specializing in podiatry at Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys, where he co-directs the Amputation Prevention Center. He is considered a thought leader in his field on health policy. Lee and his wife, Susan, live in Simi Valley where they are raising their two daughters, Emma and Lily.