[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 44 (Monday, March 22, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E441-E442]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       RECONCILIATION ACT OF 2010

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. MICHAEL K. SIMPSON

                                of idaho

                    in the house of representatives

                         Sunday, March 21, 2010

  Mr. SIMPSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 3590 
and H.R. 4872. Passage of this legislation represents the first step to 
a government takeover of our health care system. Everyone agrees that 
our health care system needs to be reformed. Health care in America is 
too expensive and too many families across America are worried about 
losing or have already lost their health coverage. Businesses, small 
and large alike, are struggling to provide health insurance for their 
employees.
  Unfortunately, rather than working on real reforms to improve access 
to health care for

[[Page E442]]

all Americans, Democrats have chosen to pass a trillion dollar bill 
that would raise Americans' taxes, create a massive new tax burden, and 
do little to address the problems in our current health system. The 
frightening reality for the American taxpayer and anyone who will need 
health care in the future is that the Democrats are hiding the true 
costs of these bills and doing so in ways that will be disastrous to 
our Nation's long-term fiscal health. Instead of creating another 
absurdly expensive government program, we should work to make health 
care affordable and accessible for everyone.
  I strongly believe that there are a number of measures that all of 
us, regardless of party affiliation, support that will bring down costs 
and improve access to care for all Americans. These are not new ideas--
they are, however, ideas that are critical to implementing real, 
affordable and effective health reform. First, we must pass effective 
medical malpractice reform. We should end the practice of banning the 
purchase of insurance across State lines, and we should pass 
legislation to allow small businesses to band together through 
associations to buy health care coverage. I also support provisions 
that prohibit insurers from denying coverage to those people with pre-
existing conditions. Further, we need to do more as a country to focus 
on prevention and early intervention. As a dentist, I have seen the 
benefits of prevention and early intervention. We should be focusing 
more on how to prevent disease or treat it early when it is most cost-
effective and the outcomes are best.
  Unfortunately, the Democrats' health reform bill fails to accomplish 
these goals. I am disappointed that President Obama and Speaker Pelosi 
have chosen to ignore the clear message from the American people by 
supporting a massive government takeover of our health system. 
Americans deserve REAL reform--not a partisan, gimmicky bill that will 
cost trillions of dollars and do little to improve care.

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