[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 126 (Monday, September 12, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


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

 
  MESSAGE TO CONGRESS: ``DON'T RAM HEALTH CARE DOWN AMERICA'S THROAT''

  (Mr. BALLENGER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, Congress is returning from the August 
district work period with one clear message from their constituents: 
Don't ram a last minute, big-government health care bill through 
Congress and down America's throat. Nobody is denying the need for 
reform in our health care system. However, it would be a disaster to 
scrap what is still the worlds best, for election year political 
reasons. We need to make incremental changes in the specific areas that 
are not working.
  I do not want to confuse this with just opening the door for further 
invasion of big-government but specifically needed changes.
  Mr. Speaker, we must have the time to thoroughly digest this 
important legislation and debate the details. It is the responsibility 
of the majority leaders of this House to provide the elected membership 
of this body the opportunity to make an informed decision. Not as in 
the past to simply receive a last minute, backroom deal followed by a 
forced late-night vote.

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