By Gia Vang

EUGENE/SPRINGFIELD Ore. -- Health care reform has drawn heated debates in every corner of the country, so it's no surprise to Congressman Peter DeFazio that his vote for the latest health care reform plan is being met with skepticism by some folks here in Oregon.

Springfield Mayor Sid Leiken, who is running for DeFazio congressional seat next election, used the vote as an opportunity to highlight some of the differences between himself and DeFazio.

DeFazio's said the amended legislation will actually drive down the cost of insurance and include taking away insurance companies' priviledges on anti-trust immunity.  He said it will improve medical reimbursements, which ultimately help seniors and those who are disabled.

"This bill will improve every medical reimbursement including ambulance rates in Oregon dramatically," DeFazio said.

Leiken said someone is going to have to foot this bill - including what he said is $400 billion in medicare cuts.

"Someone is going to be suffering somewhere, and frankly based on the numbers they proposed, there is an issue there," Leiken said.

But DeFazio said Leiken hasn't read the bill in its entirety.  And though Leiken admits that's true, he said DeFazio is ignoring the bigger issue for this community - jobs.

"People want to talk about what this will do to the large insurance companies and they'll think about a board room somewhere in some big city but they forget about the local  insurance agencies right here that could be affected," Leiken said.

DeFazio said job growth has not left his mind, that's why he's fighting with the administration to pass national bills for transportation and sustainable projects which he said will add millions of jobs.

"I don't take a back seat to anyone about creating jobs," he said.

Jaynee Germond is running against Leiken for the Republican bid against DeFazio. Germond sent a statement to KEZI 9 News late Monday night saying in part, "This is not good for Americans. The only people to benefit are special interest groups and those getting the kickbacks. They have already admitted that they don't yet know how this will be paid for."

The house version of the bill heads to the Senate.