With Medicaid reform and health care ranking as two of the most important issues facing the nation, Florida got a bigger seat at the table to confront them on Wednesday, when Republican Congressman Vern Buchanan was named to the health subcommittee of the congressional Ways and Means Committee.
Buchanan is the only Floridian on Ways and Means, the committee where legislation regarding tax matters is initiated. He was named to the subcommittee by Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp, R-Mich.
The Florida Republican, who has left the door open to challenge for Democrat Bill Nelson's Senate seat in 2012 but has done little to lay the groundwork for such a bid, vowed to use his new assignment to push for repeal of the federal health-care law that President Barack Obama backed.
I am honored to be named to such an important subcommittee, said Buchanan, who also serves on the Ways and Means trade subcommittee.
The new assignment is the second bit of good news this week for Buchanan, who has represented all of DeSoto, Hardee and Sarasota counties and parts of Charlotte and Manatee counties since first being elected in 2006.
On Monday, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) cleared Buchanan of accusations of wrongdoing over campaign contributions flowing from a car dealership that the congressman used to own. The FEC dispatched a letter to Buchanans office informing them that their investigation of the matter was over and that they had closed their file on the case.
Touching on his new assignment on Wednesday, Buchanan insisted that it would help him fight for free-market ideals, to reform the health-care system, and to spur economic growth.
We need pro-growth policies that focus on private-sector solutions to reforming health care, creating jobs and revitalizing the economy," insisted Buchanan.
The congressman vowed to use his new perch to "help small businesses grow and provide health care at affordable costs and protect seniors by ensuring Medicares long-term solvency.
Buchanans office also insisted that their bosss new assignment would allow the Florida Republican a greater role in repealing the health-care law that Obama backed.
According to Buchanans team, as a member of the health subcommittee, Buchanan will also seek to repeal the new trillion-dollar health care law and replace it with common-sense, free-market solutions that control the rising cost of health care without sacrificing quality.
I look forward to taking an active role in these important debates, said Buchanan.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
