[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 35 (Thursday, March 11, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H1327]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HEALTH CARE REFORM NOW

  (Mr. COURTNEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, as we've heard this morning, in the last 
month this country has been subjected to jaw-dropping increases of 
health insurance rates--39 percent in California, over 20 percent in 
the State of Connecticut. Small businesses and the self-employed are 
being asked to make a choice between jobs and paying for health care. 
But it is not just limited to small businesses. School districts that 
are now putting together their school budgets are getting increases. In 
the State of Connecticut, 14 percent increase in Coventry, 16 percent 
in Old Saybrook, 18 percent in Clinton, 21 percent in Plainfield, and 
25 percent in Waterford.
  For school districts who cannot afford their budgets because of the 
bad economy, they are now going to be forced with making choices 
between laying off teachers, closing schools, forcing our kids into 
bigger school classrooms, or paying for health insurance.
  For those who say start over, the insurance companies aren't going to 
start over. These school districts have to make decisions now, and it 
is time for this Congress to make a decision now to reform our health 
care system, protect our school districts, and help small businesses 
who are getting killed with these rate increases.

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