[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 26, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E120-E121]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             REPEALING THE JOB-KILLING HEALTH CARE LAW ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. CORY GARDNER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 19, 2011

  Mr. GARDNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2, which 
would repeal the health care law.

[[Page E121]]

  Some ask why we simply can't just change the law that is on the 
books--amend it to make it a bit better. Mr. Speaker, we cannot build 
upon something that is fundamentally flawed. So before we move forward 
with a replacement, we must get rid of the law in front of us. Repeal 
will free businesses and individuals from costly, onerous, and 
unconstitutional mandates. Once we do that, we can move toward 
replacing it with real solutions that help Americans get affordable 
healthcare and help businesses avoid excessive costs and penalties 
associated with this law.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe we can achieve these goals by doing the 
following things. First, we need to create a mechanism whereby small 
businesses and associations can pool together to get health insurance 
through their respective organizations. I believe that these 
associations and individuals should be allowed to purchase insurance 
plans across state lines, creating choice and competition which will 
ultimately drive down the cost of health insurance for everyone. 
Furthermore, tort reform must be addressed in a way that reduces 
medical malpractice lawsuits, which has had a profound effect on the 
ability of doctors to practice and has made the profession less 
appealing to individuals who truly want to serve those in need.
  This healthcare bill is a recipe for further fiscal insanity. It 
expands already bloated entitlement programs and will add 32 million 
more people to these programs by 2019 at a cost of $938 billion. States 
in particular will be severely burdened by the new law. They will now 
be required to increase Medicaid eligibility to cover individuals below 
138 percent of the pcverty level, which will eventually lead many 
already cash-strapped states down the road to bankruptcy. These 
expansions are simply unsustainable, especially during our current 
economic crisis. What we need is reform, not massive expansion of 
entitlement programs.
  This is just one of the problems with this bill, Mr. Speaker. Not 
only will it expand entitlements, it will raise premiums for millions 
of families and it includes an unconstitutional mandate requiring 
individuals to purchase healthcare. At a time when families are already 
struggling to make ends meet, this is not the right choice for our 
country.
  Finally, this bill was drafted behind closed doors, and without any 
transparency. The American people, let alone the Republicans in 
Congress, had little input into the final product that became law. We 
deserve better. The American people deserve better from their leaders, 
elected to represent their interests.
  Mr. Speaker, I truly believe that we must work toward a system 
whereby Americans can get access to the doctors that best suit their 
needs at an affordable price. Repealing this healthcare law is the 
first step.

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