[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 86 (Wednesday, June 12, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H6186-H6187]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           HEALTH CARE REFORM

  (Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, yesterday this House sent to 
conference committee a health care reform bill and hopefully we will 
see a bill come out. But the one that was in conference committee now 
allows for what is called MSA's, for most folks medical savings 
accounts.
  It would be a Federal tax deduction for someone who can afford to buy 
a high deductible insurance policy, $4,000 or $5,000 deductible a year.

[[Page H6187]]

  This Congress removed the deductibility for health insurance 
premiums, for the average working stiffs in the 1980's. The average 
working stiff who pays it by the month will not be able to deduct their 
premiums. Yet we are going to give it to the wealthiest who can afford 
$5,000 a year.
  As my colleague from Ohio says, beam me up. We are going to let the 
wealthy, are helping the wealthy more by the $5,000 deductible buy 
MSA's, but we are not letting the average person who pays their health 
insurance by the month deduct it. We ought to do both in this Congress.

                          ____________________