[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 14]
[House]
[Page 19569]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              LET'S UNDERSTAND REFORM BEFORE VOTING ON IT

  (Mr. PETRI asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PETRI. Wisconsin businessman John Torinus had a column in the 
July 25 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel which I commend to everyone.
  Entitled ``Health care architects must face fiscal reality,'' Mr. 
Torinus pointed out six serious flaws in the health care reform plan. 
For example, the proposed 8 percent payroll tax on companies which 
don't provide coverage. Mr. Torinus' company, like many others, spends 
about 15 percent of payroll on health care. These businesses would save 
money by opting out of health care and instead paying the 8 percent 
tax.
  President Obama promises that if you like your health insurance, you 
can keep it. Don't count on it. The House bill proposes a 2.5 percent 
penalty on people who don't buy mandatory insurance. For someone 
earning $40,000, that's $1,000, or about one month's premium for a 
family.
  With insurance companies required to accept all comers, many people 
would skip insurance and instead pay the $1,000 penalty until a 
substantial medical need arises. That is what Mr. Torinus says is 
happening in Massachusetts under a similar plan.

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