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Rep. Scott Murphy explains why he voted against health care bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The $1 trillion health care reform package has passed the House, with a split decision Capital Region Congressmen.

The House barely passed its version of the Affordable Health Care for America Act on Saturday, 220 yea votes to 215 nay votes.

Amsterdam Democrat Paul Tonko voted "yes" to the White House-backed bill, while Glens Falls Democrat Scott Murphy voted "no".

One of Murphy’s reasons for voting “no”, he says, is how hard it would hit businesses in our area.

He told the media from his Saratoga Springs office on Monday that he believes health care reform is critical, but it's coming at too high a cost to cornerstone businesses in the North Country. That is why he voted “no” on the bill.

Murphy says the bill makes a number of important reforms which he supported, however, such as lifetime caps on insurance benefits as well as the pre-existing condition exclusion - meaning an insurance company can refuse you if you have a preexisting medical condition.

But during Saturday’s vote in Washington, Murphy sided with 39 other Democrats who also voted with Republicans, saying the plan would put affordable health care out of reach of many small businesses and that it unfairly targets some Capital Region industries, like Finch Paper in Glens Falls.

What do paper companies like Finch Paper have to do with health care reform? Congress is proposing the removal of previous tax credits to companies that use bio-fuels.

The left over money would go to help fund part of the health care reform.

Finch Paper uses wood instead of oil to burn in their making of paper.