Republican Party of Louisiana Chairman Roger F. Villere, Jr. released the following statement:

“Last night was a sad one for the thousands of Louisianians who have called their members of Congress, attended town hall meetings, and written letters to the editor to oppose Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi’s massive government takeover of health care.  The bill increases taxes, raises premiums, guts Medicare and will not control the rising costs of health care.  Sadder still is the Democrat leadership’s choice to avoid bipartisanship and ram through legislation that will put government bureaucrats in charge of decisions best made by patients and their doctors and will allow for taxpayer funded abortions.  The vote last night clearly demonstrates that Democrats in Washington, D.C. have lost touch with the voters they were elected to represent.”