Health Care Reform & Michigan Politics ANN ARBOR, MI (Michigan Radio) -

Michigan congressmen expect this weekend's vote on a health care overhaul bill will effect next year's elections. But they disagree on what that affect will be.

Democrat Mark Schauer is in his first term representing a Republican leaning district in south-central Michigan. He's been targeted by GOP groups opposed to the Democrats' health care bill. Despite that, Schauer says he plans to vote for the bill this weekend, since many of his constituents say reform is needed.

"I don't know how I'd go home to them and say I'd done something by voting no on this bill," says Schauer.

Republican Congresswoman Candice Miller says voting for the health care bill will be bad for Democrats. Miller says this week's off-year elections showed voter discontent.

"People are saying no to the direction that this country has been heading during this last year," says Miller.

Miller concedes pro-health care reform Democrats won the only two special congressional elections contested this week. © Copyright 2009, Michigan Radio