Oregon Public Broadcasting

Northwest representatives voted mostly along party lines Sunday as the U.S. House approved major changes to the nation’s health care system. Idaho Democrat Walt Minnick was the only Northwest rep to buck his party.

But Oregon Democrat, Peter DeFazio, said he was leaning “no” because of recent changes to the legislation. He said he was alarmed to see changes eliminated that would’ve helped Oregon doctors with patients on Medicare.

DeFazio said he played “hardball” to restore those changes to help Oregon physicians back in.

“When the administration knew we were serious, and they could lose the whole bill, we negotiated around the clock, and we got something that is justifiable, that’s been studied time and time and time again by experts and panels and commissions saying ‘this system is not fair, it’s not equitable, it doesn’t work. And it penalizes the states that are doing a better job, and rewards states that are doing a worse job, and it’s costing the taxpayers money," he said.

Republicans and some Democrats say the bill’s near $1 trillion price tag is too high. DeFazio, and other supportive Democrats say the changes will save money over time, and will rein in rising medical costs.