HEALTHY CONVERSATION

After Senate fails to OK health care reform bill, congressman meets protesters outside office

WEST CHESTER » Health care has been a big part of Ryan Costello’s life this week.

As a Congressman he closely followed the debate in the Senate and then Thursday night’s failure of the so-called “skinny” health care reform measure early Friday morning. But of more immediate concern was the birth of his second child, Caroline Marie, who entered the world at 9 pounds, 6 ounces when she was born at Chester County Hospital Monday. Costello reported his wife, Christine ,and the baby were doing well and were to head home Friday. The couple also has a son, Ryan Jr.

With about a dozen weekly Friday protesters as a backdrop, the congressman met with them outside his West Chester office Friday and spoke briefly about the future of healthcare.

“Last night was such a shock,” Costello said of the failed vote in the Senate. “But the failure of the Senate to pass a bill doesn’t mean nothing will happen. We are going to need to do something this year to stabilize the markets. We’re

— Congressman Ryan Costello “We are going to need to do something this year to stabilize the markets.”

going to have to find more consensus, more moderates working with the Democrats to find something that centrists can support.

“I’ve been working with my colleagues in the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus on health-care reforms that may be able to attract bipartisan consensus,” Costello said.

The caucus is comprised of 44 congressman evenly divided between parties. They have been working on agreements to move tax reform and Infrastructure together. In addition to Costello, four other area Republican Congressman are in the caucus; Patrick Meehan, R-7, of Delaware County; Lloyd K. Smucker of Lancaster County and Brian K. Fitzpatrick of Bucks County. Costello said the caucus has been working in anticipation of the possibility that the Senate

would fail to pass a healthcare measure of their own.

“We owe it to the American people to stabilize the insurance marketplace and ultimately implement sustainable reforms to improve our health-care system, Costello said. “My feeling, for some time, is that a new approach to reforming our health care system is what is needed.”

Costello said the protests outside his office over the past six months have raised his awareness and have highlighted protections that are needed.

“They were good comments,” said protester Andrea Cauble of Exton as she listened to Costello speak with reporters.”He’s expressing a willingness to work with Democrats, which would help everyone.”

Asked if she thought the weekly protests have had an effect, “I hope so, they bring an awareness to issues that need to be talked about. Our voices need to be heard.”

Protester Corrine Schall of West Chester said, “We have had some impact, he (Costello) heard our stories and ended up voting against it. My son has an auto-immune disease and it still tears me up that this condition will always exclude him from health-care insurance.”

Most of the signs protesters carried on Friday focused on impeaching the president as compared to the March 10 protest when the group called on Costello to support the Affordable Care Act.

“Sounds like the Republicans found they have a little bit of a soul, at least three did,” said Jack Guida of Westtown, who has been coming out to the protests since January. “I don’t think they really wanted to do the skinny repeal. It would blow up the markets and they knew it.”

“Saved by an old man with brain cancer,” said George Grapple of East Goshen, referring to the crucial no vote cast by Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain, who was recently diagnosed with glioblastoma, a virulent form of brain cancer. “He turned out to be on the right side with health care.”

”I’m super proud of women,” said Claire Witzleben of Tredyffrin. “The women showed up , they called and faxed and took their kids with disabilities to Washington,” and some men too, she added.

Two Republican women senators, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Sen. Susan Collins, of Maine, also provided crucial no votes on the plan.

PETE BANNAN — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Protester Jack Guida shakes hands with Congressman Ryan Costello, R-6, Friday outside the Congressman’s West Chester office.

PETE BANNAN — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Protesters George Graepel of East Goshen, Jack Guida of Westtown, Anne Boyd of West Chester and Andrea Cauble of Exton gather outside the U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello’s West Chester office.

PETE BANNAN — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Congressman Ryan Costello was in up early Friday as he prepared to take home his new baby daughter, Caroline Marie from Chester County Hospital.