[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 38 (Tuesday, March 16, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H1468]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           HEALTH CARE REFORM

  (Mr. DENT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DENT. Madam Speaker, you know, for the better part of a year, we 
have devoted the lion's share of our attention to health care reform, 
and this is where we are today. From the Speaker of the House, ``We 
have to pass the bill so that you can find out what's in it.'' That's 
simply unbelievable, and it's wrong.
  You know, I have worked with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle 
to develop proposals that will lower costs, expand access, and improve 
quality. I regret very much where we are today in terms of both the 
policy and the process.
  Policywise, there is a lot we don't know. We haven't seen this 
reconciliation fix-it bill. We don't have a score from the CBO. We're 
talking about 1/6 of our American economy, but we haven't seen it yet.
  Let's talk about what we do know, the bill that we have seen, the 
Senate health care bill. This bill will increase taxes by more than a 
half a trillion dollars. It will slash Medicare by nearly a half a 
trillion dollars, all to create a $1 trillion entitlement program. 
Families who purchase coverage in the individual market will see an 
average increase in their premium of $2,300.
  This is not the reform the American people want.
  Unbelievably, the process is even worse than the policy. In the 
coming days, the powerful Rules Committee will meet up there in that 
room on the third floor and, according to reports, it will use an 
arrogant manipulation of our legislative process.
  I say defeat this bill. The American people deserve better.

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