Hensarling Comments On Pelosi Health Care Plan

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Jeb Hensarling, Vice Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, issued the following statement regarding Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s latest draft of health care legislation:

“There is a fundamental decision that will be made in this debate: Who will control health care in America?  Will it be parents, families, and doctors?  Or will it be Washington bureaucrats or insurance company accountants?”

“After getting the tab for a $1 trillion stimulus bill, a $1 trillion in regular appropriations, and a multi-trillion dollar budget -- and now being presented with a trillion-dollar government take-over of health care -- the American people recognize that the Administration has taken on more than it can handle and taxpayers can afford.”

“There is no doubt that our present system for paying for health care is unsustainable, and I want to ensure that every American has access to health care when they need it, and at a price they can afford.  Every American—no matter how sick they are and regardless of their financial status should have access to health care.”

“But it is unconceivable to me how any Member of Congress, after hearing from the American people could continue to support legislation that will result in a government take-over of health care.  The American people clearly understand the consequences of such a take-over:  little or no health care choice, decreased quality, and longer wait times.”

“I am disappointed that today’s announcement was not bipartisan.  Had The Speaker chosen to engage Republicans we could be unveiling real, bipartisan health care reform. Instead of working with Republicans to try and find common-sense solutions to our health care problems, Speaker Pelosi and her fellow Democrat leaders hunkered-down with special interests in the back rooms of the Capitol to bring you version 2.0 of the government take-over of health care -- Americans rejected that last summer.”

“Republicans have come forward with a number of ideas – all rejected by Speaker Pelosi – such as allowing individuals to purchase health care across state lines, enacting meaningful medical liability reform to reduce the number of frivolous lawsuits that result in more defensive medicine and greater costs, allowing individuals to receive the same tax benefit that businesses do for purchasing health care, and increasing efforts to root out the rampant waste, fraud, and abuse that permeates our health care today.  Just because Speaker Pelosi doesn’t want to hear Republican ideas, it doesn’t mean they don’t exist.”  

“As for the cost of this legislation, if you talk to the American people few are prepared to suspend their disbelief and accept the claim that this legislation will not add to our debt and deficit crisis.  At a bare minimum, strictly from a fiscal standpoint, any health care legislation must not add to the deficit.  We need to bend the health care cost curve downward – and no honest observer believes a government take-over will do that.”   

“I will continue supporting health care reform efforts that will protect the rights of those who currently have health care while using innovative solutions to provide those without health care the opportunity to access quality, affordable, and timely health care.  I am ready to work together with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to deliver health care legislation that works.  But I cannot support a system that emphasizes cost-control over quality, adds another trillion dollars to the deficit, and defers to the opinion of the government over that of the physician.”

To read the 1,900 page health care bill and related information go to:

H.R. 3962 - Affordable Health Care for America Act as Introduced

https://docs.house.gov/rules/health/111_ahcaa.pdf

H.R. 3961 - Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009

https://docs.house.gov/rules/health/111_sgr1.pdf