[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 112 (Friday, August 12, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 12, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                           HEALTH CARE REFORM

                                 ______


                            HON. RON PACKARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, August 12, 1994

  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, as support for President Clinton's health 
care reform package continues to dwindle, the liberal leadership has 
cooked up a new proposal which landed on my desk just the other night. 
Advertised as ``new and improved,'' the Clinton-Gephardt bill is 
different--it's worse.
  My constituents continue to demand that I keep Big Government out of 
their doctor's office; and prevent bureaucrats from tinkering with 
their health care. However, the liberal leadership concocted a plan 
containing more Government--not less.
  The Clinton-Gephardt bill creates a massive, new Government Health 
Insurance Program, called Medicare Part C. The Federal Government will 
have unprecedented control over health care delivery.
  With more than half this country's population expected to enroll, the 
private sector will be driven out of the system, taking with it 
competition, choice, and quality.
  Handing the Government more control over health care is ludicrous. 
The Federal Government already manages Medicare Parts A and B. 
Actuaries note that these parts of Medicare are technically bankrupt. 
Adding another layer to the Medicare boondoggle will only make the 
program more insolvent.
  So while the liberal leadership tries to sell the Clinton-Gephardt 
bill as new and improved, more bureaucracy and more taxes are not the 
answer.
  The American people are asking us to ensure access to health 
insurance, to protect them from losing their insurance, and to control 
costs by reforming malpractice laws.
  I urge my colleagues and the American people to read the Michel plan 
and the Dole plan. These plans give the American people what they want.

                          ____________________