[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 107 (Friday, August 5, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 5, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                LET US HAVE REALISTIC HEALTH CARE REFORM

  (Mr. THOMAS of Wyoming asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. THOMAS of Wyoming. Mr. Chairman, more than 6 months ago Bill 
Clinton stood here in the House, held up a credit card and announced he 
would produce health care for everyone that would never be taken away. 
He did not talk about the cost, who would pay. He did not talk about 
the increase in bureaucracy. He did not talk about the reduction in 
choice, just that there would be another mother of all unfunded 
mandates.
  As Americans figured out the many details, the messy details, that 
idea bombed. Last evening the House Democrat leadership was here with 
the major pitch: benefits for everyone. Did they talk about who would 
pay? No. Did they talk about the expansion of entitlements which is 
driving the budget? No. Did they talk about the expansion of government 
bureaucracy needed in the plan? No.
  Good public policy will not come from snake oil sales techniques. 
Benefits have costs. There really is no free lunch.
  We only have a short time left in this session. Let us not fill it 
with campaign pitches. Let us deal with the tough job of realistic pay-
as-you-go policy.

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