While Rep. Renee Ellmers wins the contest for most lies told per minute about the Affordable Care Act, Kissell should be honored for flipping and flopping more than any other member of Congress when it comes to his votes and views on health reform.
Kissell, of course, justified his vote against health reform by misrepresenting the measures in the law aimed at curbing Medicare fraud. Then things got interesting.
In 2011 Kissell said that he opposed repealing the Affordable Care Act and even voted against repeal. As recently as June 27, 2012, he was celebrating new funds flowing to Cabarrus Community Health Centers. He even had the gall to claim credit for securing the grant. This money is from a provision in the ACA that expands community health centers. That means Kissell voted against funding for Cabarrus Community Health Centers.
Now we come to yesterday’s vote. After saying that he opposes full repeal, and after taking credit for ACA funding of community health centers, Kissell changed course and voted for full repeal of health reform. That would mean snatching back the grant he recently took credit for.
Obviously, the Congressman’s contortions are due to the redrawing of his district lines. And even with his new stance he is unlikely to win reelection. And if this is his last year of service it will be sad that a career that began with such promise ended with such pretense.
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