[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 45 (Thursday, March 28, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H2969]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       PRESERVE BIPARTISANSHIP IN SUPPORT FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM

  (Mr. WYNN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, as Members well know, bipartisanship are those 
rare occasions on which the Democrats and the Republicans agree. We 
have found some agreement. We agree we need health care reform that 
provides portability so people can change jobs and keep their health 
insurance. We agree that we need to prevent people from being barred 
from insurance because of preexisting conditions. The question becomes, 
why do we not pass the bill that we both agree on. I will tell Members 
why: because the Republicans want to ruin this bill, kill this bill 
with extraneous material to benefit their wealthy friends.
  Once again, they ruined bipartisan support by putting on benefits for 
the wealthy. Just like the tax breaks, here they come again. These 
medical savings accounts are basically a boondoggle to benefit wealthy, 
healthy people. They take their money and put it in savings accounts 
and get a tax advantage. That leaves the rest of us, those who are 
poor, those who are sick, the regular working guy, to pay higher 
insurance rates. That is not right.
  Every major editorial paper in this country has criticized these 
medical savings accounts because they only benefit a few wealthy 
people. We need bipartisanship. We have an opportunity. Please, 
Republicans, do not ruin it.

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