Recently, the Star-Bulletin published an article (”;House will feel loss of Abercrombie,”; Feb. 11) and wrote an editorial (”;Minus Abercrombie, health care reform needs true bipartisanship,”; Feb. 12) suggesting that national health care might hinge on my vote in the House.

The source of this hypothesis is a blogger for the conservative American Spectator who theorized that the death of U.S. Rep. John Murtha and a handful of resignations including mine would turn last November's 220-215 vote for health care reform in the House into a 216-216 tie.

It would be a great story if it were based in any truth of how a bill becomes a law. It's not.

Simply put, if another health care bill comes before the House, it will be the result of an agreement with the Senate and significantly different than the one voted on in November; it will be a different bill and a different vote.

Those who want to kill health care reform are grasping at anything to prove that they have the momentum to block the president.

A year ago, when I made the decision to run for governor, I hoped I would be able to run and serve in Congress at the same time. But, it soon became clear to me that I had to fully commit myself to becoming governor.

Anyone listening to the people of Hawaii knows that these are difficult times. People want and need a leader who is all in and ready to govern from day one.

I stand by my decision because I think the people expect and deserve leaders who make their intentions clear. Right now Hawaii needs a leader who will listen to the people and be totally committed to the job. The office of governor is not a stepping stone. I have no other desire than to use all my accumulated experience and relationships to serve the people of Hawaii as governor.

As a congressman, I was completely committed to serving my constituents. Now I am completely committed to becoming the governor that the people of Hawaii need and deserve.

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U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, a Democrat, has represented the 1st Congressional District since 1991. He leaves Congress on Feb. 28.