HR3590 Health Care Bill & Government Health Insurance

Health care reform was yet another issue where the Republican and Democratic parties were at odds with each other. The Democratic Party – along with Democrat and President Barack Obama – supported and fought for reform, whereas most Republicans questioned it.

There were a few Republicans, however, who did not follow the majority Republican stand regarding health care reform. One of them was Rep. Virginia Brown-Waite, representative of the 5th Congressional District of Florida.

Virginia “Ginny” Brown-Waite was born on October 5, 1943 in Albany, New York. She has a bachelor of science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the Empire State College, State University of New York where she graduated in 1976. She proceeded to study at the Russell Sage College, earning a master’s degree in public administration. She was a staffer at the New York State Senate, eventually becoming a legislative director, before moving to Brooksville, Florida in the 1980s.

Brown-Waite was elected as representative of the 5th congressional district of Florida in 2002, narrowly edging out re-electionist Democrat Karen Thurman. Since she assumed office as representative she has been re-elected to a fourth term; she was first re-elected in 2004, then again in 2006 and 2008, running against Democrat John Russell in the last two.

On April 30, however, Brown-Waite announced that she was no longer seeking a fifth term, saying that she will retire at the end of the current Congress. She said that the retirement was spurred by health issues, specifically regarding her pancreas. She has endorsed Hernando County sheriff Richard B. Nugent as her successor.