[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]

 
                           HEALTH CARE REFORM

  (Mr. HOKE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HOKE. Mr. Speaker, I was in my office and I heard the gentlewoman 
from Texas speak of the problem that she had been unable to buy 
insurance for her small business. I felt that I had to come over and 
respond, because I too founded a small business, and what I would like 
to say to the gentlewoman is that we do not have to change the health 
care system so that 15 percent of the American economy is nationalized 
in order to solve this problem. We can do the same thing we did up in 
Cleveland, OH, which is the city I represent, and have a purchasing 
cooperative and small business health insurance purchasing reform. That 
is a part of the Republican health care package that has got 135 or so 
cosponsors.
  The other thing I wanted to speak to is this notion that somehow 
Republicans are responsible for holding up a health care bill in 
Congress. That is absolutely preposterous. The numbers speak for 
themselves. There are 257 Democratic votes in this House. Give us 257 
votes, and I guarantee you, we will pass in the next week a complete 
comprehensive health reform package that will include insurance reform, 
malpractice tort reform, paperwork reform, small business reform, and 
medical savings accounts.

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