[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 19, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H6517]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        MEDICAL SAVINGS ACCOUNTS

  (Mr. CHRYSLER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. CHRYSLER. Mr. Speaker, last week, the Marketing Research 
Institute released a poll of 1,000 workers across the Nation on their 
opinions on health care issues.
  This poll found that 87 percent of the respondents wanted Congress to 
enact medical savings accounts.
  But now, all of a sudden, MSA's have become a partisan issue with 
liberal Democrats. They have effectively shut down health care reform 
over this and other issues where there is widespread bipartisan 
support.
  At the State level, MSA's have been passed by legislatures and signed 
by Governors of both parties. In every State where MSA's have been 
passed, they passed with overwhelming bipartisan majorities. In five 
States, MSA's were passed by both Chambers unanimously. We have pilot 
programs.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a shame the liberal Democrats here in Washington 
have resorted to obstructionism. They have no new ideas, they have no 
positive agenda, and all they can do is stand in the way and throw up 
road blocks to serious health care reforms that are popular with the 
American people.

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