Remarks Before the Rules Committee, H.R. 3962 and the Republican Alternative, "Common Sense Health Care Reforms and Affordability Act"
Friday, November 06, 2009


(Remarks as Prepared)

Madame Chairman,

The people have spoken: they do not want a trillion-dollar government plan to replace their health care. Republicans have listened to the American people; it is clear from the Speaker’s health care bill, H.R. 3962, the Democratic majority has not.

The bill Speaker Pelosi crafted over the last three months, behind closed doors – which doubled in size from 1,000 pages to 2,000 pages – will do lasting damage to our economy, medical innovation, and heap mountains of additional debt on our children and grandchildren, especially when combined with an unpaid for bill to address the flawed Medicare physician payment system.

This bill will kill American jobs. Using methodology developed by the President’s top economic advisor, this bill could cause us to lose another 5 million jobs, something we can’t afford to do when our unemployment rate just reached 10.2% and shows no signs of improvement.

The Democrats’ bill will cut Medicare – by up to one-half trillion dollars, which will harm the health care 11 million seniors currently have and like.

The Democrats’ bill will pile debt on our children.

The Democrats’ bill will increase the federal commitment to health care by $600 billion according to the Congressional Budget Office. And an earlier report by the non-partisan Medicare actuary confirmed that the bill approved by Ways and Means would bend the curve upward, meaning health care would consume an even faster-rising share of our economy.

Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag has stated that, “The single most important thing we can do to improve the long-term fiscal health of our nation is slow the growth rate in health care costs.”

If the Budget Director is to be believed, then the worst thing we could do for our nation’s long-term fiscal health is to increase the growth rate in health care costs by enacting the Speaker’s health care bill.

The Democrats’ bill will raise taxes by over $700 billion. Many of those tax increases will hit families with incomes below $250,000, something the President has repeatedly promised he would not do.

The Democrats’ bill will use federal funds to pay for abortions.

The Democrats’ bill will allow taxpayer money to subsidize health insurance for millions of illegal immigrants.

I share the commitment of each of the Members on the panel here today that we must do something to make our health care system better and more efficient. But the solution put forward by the Majority’s deep flaws make it one I cannot support.

Republicans have a better solution and I am here to let the American people know, and urge the Rules Committee to make in order for the purposes of a substitute, the House Republican alternative to this government takeover of health care.

Let’s be clear about the Republican bill: it delivers what the American people want – lower health care costs.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, the Republican health care reforms would reduce premiums by up to 3 percent for Americans who get insurance through a large business, up to 8 percent for Americans without employer sponsored insurance, and up to 10 percent for those working for a small business (50 or fewer employees). CBO has not made a claim that the Democrats’ bill would lower premiums.

The Republican bill will significantly reduce health care premiums, insures millions of Americans, guarantees those with pre-existing conditions have access to quality, affordable health care and does all of this without raising taxes, without spending $1 trillion we don’t have, without cutting Medicare and without putting some new Health Czar in between doctors and patients, which is what the Democrat majority does in their government takeover bill.

Americans’ health care is too important and too complex to risk on Democrats gamble. Instead, Republicans are promoting a step-by-step approach to comprehensive health care reform, and the first step is to make health insurance affordable for families, affordable for small businesses and affordable for America.

Finally, unlike the Democrat plan that increases taxes almost immediately but delays health reforms for several years, the Republican plan will immediately begin to lower costs.

Madame Chairman, clearly the bill offered by the Speaker is not what the American people want. Americans are clamoring for lower cost health care and that is what the Republican plan offers – lower costs health care without tax increases, without Medicare cuts, without adding to the deficit and without eliminating jobs.

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http://republicans.waysandmeans.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=153581

Then why, in the latest polls, do 75% of the American people want to have the choice of a PUBLIC OPTION?

what poll? Show me...

"The people have spoken: they do not want a trillion-dollar government plan to replace their health care."


Um what health care? I am one of those folks that have none. You know, along with the millions of other americans in the same boat.

And this is my problem how?

The CNN poll showed that people favoring a public option jumped from 65% in August to 75% in October, while people opposing the public option decreased from 35% in August to 25% in October.

The CBS/New York Times poll from late October also showed people favoring the public option rebounding to 75%, up from the summer low of 65%. While opposition dramatically weakened to only 26% of Americans opposing the public option, compared to 34% who opposed it in August.


You better get with the program and quit supporting the INSURANCE Companies!

According to Gallup, 30% will advise their congressperson to vote against any healthcare bill. 75% + 30% = 105%. I can back up my number, where the hell are you getting yours from?

On the internet, same as you. You have to see what they are asking in the poll. If they ask about the Public Option as a choice, the vast majority (75%) want to see it as a choice.

Let's get with the program, buddy!

Everyone knows CNN is Obummer country.
Rasmussen says only 42% want your debt.
Read it and weep.

Health Care Reform
42% Support Health Care Reform After Release of Pelosi's Version
Monday, November 02, 2009 Email to a Friend ShareThisAdvertisement
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi introduced the House version of health care reform legislation last week, but most voters are still opposed to the effort.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% now favor the health care plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats. That’s down from 45% a week ago but unchanged from two weeks ago.

Fifty-four percent (54%) now oppose the legislative effort, up three points since last week.

Seventy-three percent (73%) of liberals support the plan, but just 18% of conservatives agree.

Only 23% of all voters Strongly Support the plan while nearly twice as man (44%) are Strongly Opposed.

As has been the case for months, Democrats favor the plan while Republicans and voters not affiliated with either major party are opposed. The latest numbers show support from 69% of those in the president’s party. The plan is opposed by 80% of Republicans and a plurality (48%) of unaffiliated voters.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

Nineteen percent (19%) of all voters say passage of the legislation is Very Likely while 10% say it is Not at All Likely to pass. Most voters offer an assessment in between those extremes, with 34% saying the plan is Somewhat Likely to pass and 26% say Not Very Likely.

Perhaps the most stunning aspect of the numbers is how stable they have been through months of debate, town hall protests, presidential speeches, congressional wrangling and more. With the exception of bounces following nationally televised presidential pitches for the plan, support has stayed between 41% and 46% since July. Rasmussen Reports is tracking support for the plan on a weekly basis.

Fifty-five percent (55%) say passage of the plan would increase the cost of health care, and 52% say it would hurt the quality of care. Just 23% say it would reduce costs while 27% believe it would improve quality.

Polling released last week showed that health care reform remains the top priority for Democratic voters. However, it ranks fourth on a list of four among Republicans and unaffiliated voters. Overall, 38% of voters see deficit reduction as most important among the four priorities listed by the president earlier this year, while 23% cite health care reform as tops.

Polling on the health care topic by many firms has created some confusion. In particular, polls on the “public option” show a wide variety of results. A recent poll in The Washington Post found that 57% support a government-run health insurance company to compete with private insurers, but Rasmussen Reports polling shows that support is very soft. In fact, people are strongly opposed to a public option if they think it could lead employers to drop the existing coverage they provide employees. The fact that results are so subject to change based upon minor differences in question wording suggests that voters do not have firm opinions on the public option.

Virtually all polling shows a plurality or majority opposed to the current plan in Congress. The poll in The Washington Post found just 45% support for the congressional plan among all adults. Additionally, support for the current plan has remained stable suggesting that public opinion is firmly established at this time.

Other recent polling shows that 49% would rather see no health care legislation passed this year than see the current bill become law. Two-thirds (66%) say an increase in competition is more likely than increased government regulation to reduce the cost of health care. That’s one reason there is strong support for removing the exemption from anti-trust laws currently enjoyed by insurance companies.

While voters are skeptical of the plan working its way through Congress, 54% say major changes are needed in the health care system. Sixty-one percent (61%) say it’s important for Congress to pass some reform.

As Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports, wrote recently in the Wall Street Journal: “The most important fundamental is that 68% of American voters have health insurance coverage they rate good or excellent. … Most of these voters approach the health care reform debate fearing that they have more to lose than to gain.”

Only 31% believe Congress has a good understanding of the proposed health care reform.

no link? no demographics? no methodology?

I bet I could design a poll that would show you 85% of people would be willing to let me put a .45 to their brainstem and pull the trigger..

It's all in how you ask it and to whom you ask it..

how many people in this poll? a couple thousand?

where was the poll taken? downtown Detroit? The CNN pressroom? A homeless shelter?

come on..

if the statement is "if I have a choice..." maybe sure plenty might see it as a good idea

if the statement is "you have no choice but to enroll through us..", I'm certain you'll get a different response..

Can you afford $15,000 per year in insurance?

Would you rather go to jail?

Excuse me? You aren't the only person in this country that pays taxes. And I do not think I was addressing you, so buzz off!

so explain to me why i should pay more taxes so you can have healthcare.

I do not have to explain anything, I suggest if you do not like it then stop paying. Or buck it up.

You go girl! Woot!

Not taking sides in this particular arguement..

but a question if you would so endulge me:

To how much of another's prosperity are you entitled so that you might enjoy a comfortable life?

"Comfortable"? Are you kidding me? By not dying because someone gets a needed medical treatment is "comfortable"?

So someone gets sick and needs to seek medical treatment, you think that most people do not deserve to get better just as you? You think you are better than the person next to you? I bet it must be hard to look at yourself in the mirror everyday.

Correct ne if I'm istaken but, isn't that how Communism and Socialism works?

The very weathy pay very little while the middle class supports the wants of the poor.

If ya' can't afford the insurance, go to jail.

Well since the top 1% wealthiest people in the US own more total wealth than the combined wealth of 95% of the people in the US, I would say them SOB's better start kickin' in.

non-responsive.. you didn't answer the question