[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 16 (Wednesday, February 23, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 23, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]


                              {time}  1400
 
     INTRODUCTION OF BINDING LEGISLATION ON TAXES AND SPENDING FOR 
                    GOVERNMENT-MANDATED HEALTH CARE

  (Mr. ALLARD asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, In January, Congressman Penny and I 
introduced a resolution directing that any Government mandated health 
care reform should be on-budget where the true costs are honestly 
disclosed to the American people.
  This means that any mandates should be counted as taxes, and the 
expenditures of any government controlled health alliances should be 
counted as Federal spending. I am pleased that 137 Members have signed 
onto this resolution.
  Two weeks ago the Congressional Budget Office supported our position 
and recommended that the administration's health reform proposal be on-
budget. We applaud this decision.
  While the CBO recommendation is a victory for fiscal integrity, the 
CBO's view is only advisory; ultimately, the Congress must explicitly 
address the issue through legislation.
  That is why today, Congressman Penny and I, are introducing binding 
legislation that require that the Federal budget accurately reflect the 
level of taxes and spending in any Government mandated health care 
system.
  This will ensure that no attempts are made to hide the true costs of 
any health plans off-budget.
  We will be watching the health care debate closely in the coming 
months to ensure that truth in budgeting prevails.

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