I was for civil unions and believed strongly that the flow of benefits and protections that would be provided in a civil union for same-sex couples the decisions that have to be made when health hardships are faced when economic hardships are faced I wanted all of those protections. I never strayed from them.

But at the end of the day we need to represent the taxpayers who have made enormous sacrifices. Many have lost their jobs. Many of them have seen their companies - they don't have a pension - they have seen their companies cut the match for their 401(k). They have seen their health care benefits be shredded.

While some people are certainly seeing economic benefits many others are unemployed underemployed without health insurance and struggling to make ends meet.

It is essential that the women's preventive coverage benefit including contraception be available to all women regardless of what health plan they have or where they work - as Congress intended. Providing access to birth control just makes good sense.

I would prefer a public option that would be a competitive option that would allow people to buy into a Federal Employee Health Benefits Program which is a series of private plans.

Because what happens is as the economy suffers tax revenues go down. But unlike businesses where at least your variable costs go down in government your variable costs go up: unemployment insurance workmen's compensation health care benefits welfare you name it.

As founder and co-chair of the upper Mississippi River Congressional task force I have long sought to preserve the river's health and historical multiple uses including as a natural waterway and a home to wildlife for the benefit of future generations of Americans.

I'm always active in trying to educate people when it comes to eating animal products testing on animals and the health benefits of being vegan although I'm probably not the best person to be talking about the latter at the moment.

Yes. I think the anti-Wal-Mart is Costco which pays much better and has much better health benefits and which is profitable and offers low prices.

The health care system is really designed to reward you for being unhealthy. If you are a healthy person and work hard to be healthy there are no benefits.

The most common objection that I hear to walking as exercise is that it's too easy that only sweaty strenuous activity offers real benefits. But there is abundant evidence that regular brisk walking is associated with better health including lower blood pressure better moods and improved cholesterol ratios.

We know that there are significant health benefits from consuming more fruits and vegetables and that's an opportunity for us to sort of move away from some of the meals that we've been preparing in the past.

The reality is that the special interest groups that have lobbied against Free Choice Vouchers object to any measure that would empower employees to have a say in their health benefits because it begins to erode their power in the current health care system.

One state retiree 49 years old paid over the course of his entire career a total of $124 000 towards his retirement pension and health benefits. What will we pay him? $3.3 million in pension payments over his life and nearly $500 000 for health care benefits - a total of $3.8m on a $120 000 investment.

If you want to know why Republicans and conservatives are in a political crisis you need only consider the fact that the Right's deeply held view now boils down to this: Taxes should not go up on the wealthy and your health benefits should be cut.

Many soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from serious long-term physical and mental health problems due to their service. It is unconscionable to cut the already limited health care benefits available to these brave men and women.

They said it was impossible to touch the third rail of politics to take on public-sector unions and to reform a pension and health benefits system that was headed to bankruptcy. But with bipartisan leadership we saved taxpayers $132 billion dollars over 30 years and saved retirees their pensions. We did it.