[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 81 (Thursday, June 23, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


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

 
                       COMMONSENSE HEALTH REFORM

  (Mr. KNOLLENBERG asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, health care reform seems to be 
revolving around the Democratic Party's Big Brother-like mentality of 
more government-run systems. Being a proponent of individual 
accountability, I am particularly appalled by this reckless disregard 
for personal responsibility.
  Specifically, President Clinton's proposal forces small businessmen 
to abdicate their right to design an employee benefits package that 
meets their employees' needs and makes good business sense. As a former 
small businessman, I find this very disturbing.
  So who would fill this role? A new crop of State and Federal 
bureaucrats, equaling yet another unfunded Federal mandate for the 
States, a nightmare for employees and a bigger tax bill for American 
taxpayers.
  These newly empowered State and Federal health care bureaucrats would 
be responsible for: Determining corporate and individual eligibility; 
setting subsidy amounts; formulating subsidy distribution; and even 
monitoring changes in eligibility status.
  Mr. Speaker, it is quite clear to me that employer mandates are 
unacceptable. This explosive increase in State and Federal employees, 
and the lack of small business control over employee benefits design 
are not in the American public's best interest.
  Let us make sure that health care reform today does not translate 
into bigger government tomorrow.

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