[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 116 (Wednesday, August 17, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 17, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]


                              {time}  1950
 
                HEALTH CARE REFORM AND THE MIDDLE CLASS

  The SPEAKER, pro tempore. (Mr. Farr of California). Under a previous 
order of the House, the gentlewoman from Ohio [Ms. Pryce] is recognized 
for 5 minutes.
  Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, when the American people voiced 
support for the President's call for health care reform, I joined then 
but, they didn't mean they wanted to pay more to receive less. But, 
that is just what will happen under the Clinton-Gephardt plan to 
``reform'' our Nation's health care system. In fact, this attempt to 
expand coverage to the 15 percent of Americans who are uninsured, will 
leave the vast majority of Americans who already have insurance 
coverage far worse off. These Americans, largely referred to as the 
middle class, will pay more for less care, less choice, and less 
quality under the Clinton-Gephardt proposal.
  By requiring employers to pay for up to 80 percent of their 
employees' health insurance premiums, the Clinton-Gephardt bill posses 
an enormous economic threat to the middle class. Let's be honest. 
Employees don't get a free ride when employers are forced to pay for 
benefits they can't afford. As employers struggle to pay for yet 
another costly government mandate, they will reduce wages for middle-
class workers and raise prices for middle-income consumers.
  While the middle-income Americans and hardworking employers pay more, 
low-wage firms and low-income employees will be subsidized under the 
Clinton-Gephardt plan. Low-income workers might be better off, but the 
middle class will pay for it in the form of lower wages and increased 
taxes. Is this the reward for working hard and playing by the rules? We 
want to restore the American dream, not tear down what's good and right 
and honest.
  Not only will the middle class pay more for their own coverage and 
the coverage of others, they will get less. The Clinton-Gephardt bill 
will restrict choice for middle income Americans, requiring every 
person regardless of age, sex, and income, to purchase a one-size-fits-
all, government-defined benefits package. That means the Government 
will force even those Americans who are happy with their insurance 
coverage to pay for benefits they may not want or need. Don't we have 
enough bureaucracy? Our Government is already to big and spends too 
much. Why are we even considering allowing it to expand?
  Perhaps most troubling is that the middle class, and all Americans 
for that matter, will be forced to accept a reduced quality of care 
under the Clinton-Gephardt bill. You see, their bill would place a 
limit on the amount that Americans can spend on health care, including 
medical and pharmaceutical research and development. Simply stated, 
there will be less money available to provide more medical care to more 
people. In order to pay for the increased demand, the middle class will 
be forced to spend more and receive less.
  Canada's attempt to impose spending limits has had tragic results. 
There are countless stories, but I have in my hand a letter from one of 
my constituents who recently visited Niagara Falls, Canada. Mr. Anders 
was unfortunate enough to have had a small stroke during his stay 
there. He went to the local emergency room but, he received no 
treatment or care in this Canadian emergency room where he was left 
alone in seizures totally unattended for over 4 hours. You see, the 
hospital had more patients than beds and was extremely under-staffed. 
Upon finding out that he was an American, a doctor advised Mr. Anders 
that he could be transferred to the U.S. where ``they have good health 
care.'' In my view, and the view of Mr. Anders, the United States 
doesn't have a crisis in health care, Canada does.
  Mr. Anders says this in his letter:

       I think every liberal that wants a single payer system 
     should spend a night with a stroke in a single payer system.

  Mr. Speaker, clearly the President and the democratic leadership are 
out of touch with middle-class Americans. These folks don't want to pay 
more to receive less choice, less quality, and less care. They want 
health care security so that they can keep the care they already have.
  Fortunately, there are alternatives to the Clinton/Gephardt bill. 
These proposals, including Republican and bipartisan bills, address the 
real needs of Americans, making health care and health insurance more 
affordable and ensuring that coverage can never be taken away due to 
illness or a change in jobs. Consumers will continue to have choice and 
quality without new taxes, without increased bureaucracy, or without 
rationed care.

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