Shadegg blasts House health care bill

WASHINGTON -- Arizona Congressman John Shadegg has lambasted the health care reform bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives.

Shadegg, a Republican, helped unfurl a copy of the 2,000-page bill outside the Capitol before Saturday night's vote, held up a copy of the huge bill during debate and brought a young prop along during his floor speech against the bill.

Shadegg held up a baby named Maddy and told the House, "Maddy likes America because we have freedom here, and Maddy believes in patient choice health care. She asked to come here today to say she doesn't want the government to take over health care."

His point, Shadegg said, was that children like Maddy should not end up paying the bill for health reform today.

"Maddy doesn't want her mom's premiums to go up, she doesn't want her mom's taxes to go up by 730-billion dollars. Do you, Maddy?" Shadegg said. "Most of all, Maddy says, `Don't tax me to pay for health care that you guys want. If you want health care, pay for it yourself.'"

Saturday was a tragic day for all Americans when the House passed its health care reform bill, Shadegg said. He said Saturday will go down "in infamy for anyone who believes in freedom."

The House approved the bill on a vote of 219 to 215. Arizona's congressional delegation split along party lines, as did most of the House members. Shadegg and Reps. Jeff Flake and Trent Franks voted against the bill. Democrats Ed Pastor, Raul Grijalva, Gabrielle Giffords, Harry Mitchell and Ann Kirkpatrick voted for the bill.