Congressman Ben Ray Luján sent out a press release today highlighting the more than 40 events he’s attended throughout his district, to listen to his constituents’ thoughts on health care reform.

Luján has said many times that he favors a health care bill which includes a public option, and this release seems an attempt to push back at conservative criticism that some members of Congress are not voting with the will of their constituents.

U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan hosts a town hall meeting in Santa Fe on Monday. (Photo courtesy KNME)

Lujan hosts a town hall meeting in Santa Fe. (Photo courtesy KNME)


The Congressman’s newly updated health care page on his Congressional Web site also pushes back at some conservative criticism of the bill.

“The public option will be a much-needed new choice, especially in regions dominated by one or two private insurers,” the page reads. “It will not be above the law, but financed through premiums received-making it subject to the same market forces and consumer protections all private insurers face.”

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said today that House Democrats do not quite have the 218 votes necessary to pass the House version of health care reform which was released last week and that the vote on the legislation may be pushed back.