During an interview in July, ThinkProgress asked Rep. Tom Petri (R-WI) if he wished to repeal health reform, specifically inquiring if he would join the right-wing “100% repeal” discharge petition circulated by Rep. Steve King (R-IA). Petri, known as a moderate to some, said he would not join King’s effort. “I’m not in favor of repealing every last thing in it,” he explained after a town hall in Mayville, Wisconsin. Watch it:
However, Petri signed King’s discharge petition yesterday to repeal everything in health reform. In doing so, he joined other GOP members, like Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA), Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA), and Rep. Charles Djou (R-HI), who all similarly said they were not interested in stripping Americans of new health reform subsidies and protections. Those members also signed King’s radical petition to do with away with every last provision of the health reform law.
Reached for comment, Petri spokesman Niel Wright told ThinkProgress that although his boss signed King’s petition, he does not share King’s views on health reform and does not intend “at this time” to sign onto King’s companion health reform repeal bill, H.R. 4972.
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