[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 60 (Tuesday, April 27, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H2891-H2892]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           HEALTH CARE REFORM

  (Mr. WESTMORELAND asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, last week the Centers for Medicare & 
Medicaid Services confirmed what we

[[Page H2892]]

already knew--that health care spending will increase. It violates the 
pledge made by the President last year, and it leaves the hardworking 
American taxpayers to pick up the bill. The report estimates a $311 
billion increase in total health care spending. And while this may be 
chump change for this administration, it's a lot of money for the 
American taxpayer.
  There is one area of interest for me, and that is the high-risk pools 
for the uninsured. Back home in Georgia, we have been talking about the 
Democrats' approach to the high-risk pools. It is clear that their 
approach is not the best, and this report confirmed that.
  The Democrats want to set aside $5 billion for high-risk pools, but 
this report says that is not enough and that it will run out within 1 
to 2 years. Plus, their plan only covers 375,000 Americans. What 
happens when the funds run out? Premiums will go up, services will be 
cut, there will be waiting lines formed, or States like Georgia will be 
forced to pick up the cost.
  This is unacceptable for all Americans, and taxpayers especially.

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