Ex-Rep. John M. Spratt Jr., the former House Budget Committee chairman who was defeated for reelection after his role in enacting the 2010 health care law, died Saturday at the age of 82.
The South Carolina Democrat died from complications from Parkinson’s disease, which he had been battling for a decade, according to a Facebook post from Catherine Spratt, one of three daughters who, along with his wife, Jane Stacy Spratt, survive him.
A moderate who pushed fiscal responsibility and a strong defense and who treaded carefully on social issues, the 14-term lawmaker fell victim to the backlash against the health care law when Republicans took back control of the House in the 2010 elections.
