Orrin Hatch, Bob Bennett oppose health bill

Utah Sens. Bob Bennett and Orrin Hatch maintained their positions of staunch opposition to the Senate Democrats' proposal to retool national health care and joined 37 GOP colleagues Saturday night in voting against continuing debate on the issue — a stance overridden by a combined 60 votes from Senate Democrats and independents.

Following the much-anticipated reckoning, Bennett said the bill ignores the will of citizens and creates new financial stresses for individuals and state governments.

"I am outraged and discouraged that 60 members of Congress voted to proceed to this bill," Bennett said. "Those who voted to proceed to this bill voted to raise premiums, raise taxes, cut benefits to Medicare and inflate the national debt."

"This is a far cry from what Americans wanted, and I will work to defeat this bill so we can start anew with one that truly brings down costs and reforms our broken system."

Hatch took the Senate floor Saturday to critique the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on a number of issues, including abortion coverage and state liability for Medicaid coverage. Hatch stumped for new language in the bill that reflected the "pro-life" wording in the House's health-care package that passed two weeks ago. He also attacked the bill for proposed changes to mandated state contributions to Medicaid.

"The last thing we need right now is for Washington to impose more liability on states," Hatch said. "This alone should be a reason enough for every senator to stop and rethink their decision about letting this tax-and-spend bill move forward."

With the rule of cloture invoked by Saturday's 60-vote, three-fifths supermajority, the Senate moves to debate of the bill, likely following the Thanksgiving holiday.

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