WASHINGTON – Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., voted tonight against allowing the Senate Democrats’ health care plan from coming to the Senate floor for debate.  By a vote of 60 to 39, Democrats reached the 60 votes needed to move the legislation forward.  After the vote, Wicker released the following statement:

“Tonight, Senate Democrats voted to bring their 2,074-page, $2.5 trillion health care reform bill to the floor for consideration. I voted no because it would implement job-killing tax increases, cut Medicare by nearly $500 billion, and raise the cost of health care for everyone.  I am disappointed that this plan has advanced in the Senate, though I welcome the coming debate.  In the weeks ahead, the American people will be given an opportunity to learn more about what is in this so-called ‘reform.’   

“Higher taxes, more spending, and cuts to Medicare are not the reforms Americans want. Instead, we should take a step-by-step approach that reduces costs and increases access to quality care.  We can do that by allowing competition across state lines, curbing medical lawsuit abuse, and creating health insurance exchanges so patients have more choices.”

Majority Leader Harry Reid has pledged to begin debate on the bill after the Senate resumes following the Thanksgiving holiday.

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