Elizabethtown, KY. (WDRB News) -- The fight over health care reform will be decided by voters in the presidential election. That is the opinion of the U. S. Senate minority leader.
Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky calls the Affordable Care Act the single worst piece of legislation in modern times, even though the Supreme Court ruled last week that it is constitutional.
"If you are not a fan of Obama Care there is one opportunity left and that is the election this November," said Senator McConnell to a group of health care workers at Hardin County Memorial Hospital in Elizabethtown.
The battle over health care reform has moved out of the court and back into the political arena. "If I am the leader of the majority party," says McConnell, "instead of the leader of the minority as I currently am, repeal of this will for me will be job one."
Congress is currently on its July 4th holiday break, so the senate minority leader spent part of Monday visiting a couple of hospitals out in the state to explain why he is opposed to the president's version of health care reform.
He calls it a job killer. "Businesses all across America are not expanding," he says, "because of the uncertainty created by the costs associated with Obama Care."
McConnell claims the legislation will cost 800,000 to one million jobs.
Those who work in the health care industry are concerned about how in the long run to pay for the reforms.
"Regardless of what form health care reform takes," says the CEO of Hardin County Memorial Hospital, Dennis Johnson, "I think we will be able to take care of patients; the question is are we going to be able to sustain that over time."
Democrats believe as more Americans come to understand the reforms that they will support them.
"We are confident that over the next couple of years," Third District Congressman John Yarmuth told WDRB News, "that people will get a much better understanding of the incredible benefits that are in that law for virtually every American."
The Republican controlled House of Representatives has scheduled a vote to repeal health care reform on July 11th.
But even if that move would be successful, for now at least, the Democrats still have the majority in the Senate and of course a Democrat still sits in the White House.
But the people will have the final say in November.
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