Himes stood up for what’s right

The Stamford Advocate, Tuesday, March 23, 2010

To the editor:

On Sunday, March 21, Jim Himes voted "yes" on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Jim Himes voted "yes" to insuring 32 million Americans. Jim Himes voted "yes" to huge tax credits for small businesses throughout our district that struggle to provide health insurance for employees. Jim Himes voted "yes" to the critical reforms of health insurance company practices that have left countless people uninsured and unable to cope with diseases and illness.

Jim Himes cast a vote affirming the only ethical stance one can take in this debate.

No more children can be denied coverage for diseases afflicting them when their parents lose a job. No more people with insurance will find themselves in bankruptcy when their medical bills exceed some arbitrary lifetime limit. No more young adults will have to try to slip by for a few years without access to health care only to discover that no one is invincible.

I'm proud of Jim Himes for taking a political risk on moral grounds. It's rare that you see a politician make the case for the ethical imperative of a piece of legislation, but I watched Mr. Himes do just that when he rose to speak in favor of the bill during the debate on C-Span.

He deserves a great deal of credit. By standing up for what is right, he earned my vote for re-election next November.

David Kostek

New Canaan