[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 41 (Friday, March 19, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H1719-H1720]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                STOP GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF HEALTH CARE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Barrett) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. BARRETT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, tonight it seems like the 
popular target is health care, and I rise tonight, Mr. Speaker, to talk 
about my opposition to government takeover of health care. And there 
are a lot of reasons why we should all be against this bill, a lot of 
reasons why I should be against this bill, but the main reason I want 
to talk about is jobs.
  Right now in my home State of South Carolina, Mr. Speaker, about 
270,000 South Carolinians are out of work. We have a record 
unemployment rate of 12.6 percent. Families and small businesses are 
trying to figure out how to put food on the table and keep the lights 
lit. And you know what? Here in Washington all we are doing is making 
the matter worse. If this bill passes, thousands of mothers and fathers 
and hardworking South Carolinians will be without a job. Businesses 
will be saddled with new taxes, resulting in additional layoffs, 
cutbacks, and businesses closing.
  In South Carolina, taxpayers will pick up the tab for sweetheart 
deals Democrats made behind the scenes to muscle this bill through 
Congress. Despite the Democrats' best efforts to keep the American 
people in the dark, though, by resorting to shady tactics and backroom 
deals, nobody is fooled in this country about what is going on here. 
This is a trillion-dollar boondoggle that will kill job creation and 
take over one-sixth of the Nation's economy. It will mean nearly $600 
billion in tax increases, over $500 billion in Medicare cuts, and a 
massive expansion of the Federal Government.
  In South Carolina, we know government mandates only stand in the way 
of economic growth and jobs. With this bill, Democrats have found 
another way to help stifle this country.
  Mr. Speaker, let me say this. If this bill does pass, South Carolina 
won't stand for it. And I will tell you today that I will do everything 
within my power to defend the States' rights that are set forth by the 
10th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. The truth is 
we can avoid the lawsuits and legal action that will result in further 
wasted taxpayer dollars.

[[Page H1720]]

  There is a better way. Republicans have offered real solutions that 
lower the cost of health care and improve access while resulting in 
zero job loss, zero Medicare cuts, and zero tax increases. Let me say 
that one more time. Zero job loss, zero Medicare cuts, and zero tax 
increases.
  Mr. Speaker, Americans deserve an honest debate and an up-or-down 
vote on this bill. That's why I have cosponsored legislation to do just 
that, but Democrats have continued to stand in the way of true and real 
reform. A government takeover of health care is wrong for South 
Carolina, it is wrong for this Nation, and, Mr. Speaker, it is wrong 
for freedom. I hope and I pray, Mr. Speaker, that come Sunday my 
colleagues and I will beat this bill, and I urge all of my colleagues 
to vote ``no.''

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