New congressman John Garamendi joins health care debate

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File photo: Then-California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi gives a press conference in regards to fire victims getting insurance claims, and warned people to watch out for insurance scams Oct. 30, 2003 at the Scripps Ranch Recreation Facility in San Diego, California.

California’s newest congressman is heading to Washington today to join the health care debate.

California’s former lieutenant governor is now the state’s newest man on Capitol Hill. Democrat John Garamendi easily defeated four other candidates to fill the congressional seat vacated by Ellen Tauscher when she joined the State Department.

Garamendi will likely be sworn in on Thursday – just in time to cast his first vote in the House on health care. Democrats need every vote they can get to pass the measure.

Republicans showed their disdain for the nearly 2,000 page bill by reading it out loud in a marathon session. Democrats countered by reading the much shorter GOP proposal.

Garamendi knows something about both insurance and negotiating with other lawmakers – he served two terms as California’s first elected insurance commissioner and 16 years in the state legislature. The new lieutenant governor will be appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.