Dean Heller says he likes some parts of ‘ObamaCare’

By Lisa Mascaro

Monday, April 19, 2010 | 12:02 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- Republican Rep. Dean Heller is among Nevada officials expected to join the Revere America campaign in Reno this afternoon as it seeks 1 million signatures nationwide to “repeal, reform and replace” the new health care law.

Heller voted against health care reform, as all Republicans in Congress did, but has since said he does not want to repeal the law.

In fact, Heller supports aspects of what the campaign calls “ObamaCare” – including a provision banning insurers from denying coverage for pre-existing medical conditions and another allowing young people to remain on parents’ policies until they are 26 years old.

“I don’t know that you’re going to be able to repeal all the provisions and, frankly, I wouldn’t want to repeal all the provisions,” Heller said during an interview on KOLO-TV in Reno.

“There are some good provisions in the bill, there are some bad provisions,” Heller said. “I think it needs to be replaced.”

Heller called the tax provisions, which hit insurance companies, industry manufacturers and the wealthy “very onerous.” He believes the law’s requirements that employers provide insurance to their workers will cost jobs.

“Frankly, I think the bad outweighs the good,” Heller said. “We need to take another look at this piece of legislation.”

Former Republican Gov. George Pataki of New York is heading up Revere America, which is crisscrossing the country in a six-city blitz that targets states where Democratic lawmakers are in tough elections this fall.

The group began the petition drive in Boston on Sunday, the anniversary of Paul Revere’s ride.