[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 117 (Thursday, August 18, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 18, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
     PUBLIC GETS CONFUSING MESSAGES ON CLINTON-GEPHARDT HEALTH CARE

  (Mr. JOHNSTON of Florida asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. JOHNSTON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, there is mass confusion 
surrounding the health care debate, and it is only getting worse as the 
war of the ads heats up.
  Consider the back-to-back messages going out to the American public:
  First they are told, ``We'll all be forced into giant HMO's.''
  Then they are warned, ``They'll take away our HMO's.''
  First they are told, ``Reform will mean the end of life-saving 
technology.''
  And then they are warned, ``Without reform, your family may lose 
access to life-saving technology.'' I guess next will come the Mueslix 
ad.
  Many people bombarded with these conflicting ads thing they are all 
addressing the Clinton-House bill, rather than the many versions of 
reform on the table. Is it any wonder they are confused as to what is 
actually in the legislation and whether it is important?
  It is incumbent on us and the media to educate the public, not only 
as to what the bill will do, but why we must act now, that there is 
still an emergency in health care in this country.
  That 5 years ago, we talked of a $500 billion price tag, and now we 
are talking a trillion and it is fiscally irresponsible to wait any 
longer.
  And that the only reason the cost of health care has slowed this year 
is that there is a bill out there dealing with universal coverage and 
reform. It is not altruism.
  If we do not act now, the costs will shoot back up and we will return 
to the expensive and amoral system we confronted at the start of this 
debate.
  That would not only be unfortunate. It would be unforgiveable.

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