Washington
(Jul 14, 2009)
House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today issued the following statement on the massive health care bill announced by House Democrats:
“During a deep economic recession, it is criminal malpractice for Democrats to push a government takeover of health care and a new small business tax that will destroy more American jobs. After the Democrats’ trillion-dollar ‘stimulus’ did not fulfill the Administration’s promises to create jobs immediately, a small business tax will make matters worse for middle-class Americans looking for real solutions to help put them back to work and give them better access to quality health care. Washington cannot afford to make the same mistake now that Democrats made earlier this year on the ‘stimulus.’
“House Republicans have offered a better health care alternative that will reduce costs, expand access, and let Americans who like their plans keep them – all without a job-killing small business tax. The House Democrats’ proposal will force more than 100 million Americans off their current health care plans and move millions of seniors, particularly in rural areas, out of their current coverage and onto the government rolls as a result of deep Medicare cuts. Middle-class families, small businesses, and senior citizens deserve better than what House Democrats have offered. If Democrats are serious about real job creation and true health care reform, they’ll scrap this government takeover and work with Republicans on a plan that helps small businesses create jobs and gives Americans better access to quality care.”
NOTE: Boehner and Ways & Means Committee Ranking Republican Dave Camp (R-MI) published an op-ed in this morning’s Detroit News urging Democrats to shelve their job-killing small business tax and government-run health care plan.
Last month, House Republicans outlined a health care reform alternative, which would:
- Make quality health care coverage affordable and accessible for every American, regardless of pre-existing health conditions.
- Protect Americans from being forced into a new government-run health care plan that would eliminate the health care coverage that more than 100 million Americans currently receive through their job.
- Let Americans who like their health care coverage keep it, and give all Americans the freedom to choose the health plan that best meets their needs.
- Ensure that medical decisions are made by patients and their doctors, not government bureaucrats.
- Improve Americans’ lives through effective prevention, wellness, and disease management programs, while developing new treatments and cures for life-threatening diseases.
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