[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 19]
[House]
[Page 26532]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  THE HEALTH CARE DEBATE: A GOVERNMENT-CENTERED PLAN VERSUS A PATIENT-
                    CENTERED, TAXPAYER-FRIENDLY PLAN

  (Mrs. BLACKBURN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, the American people, especially women, 
are listening and watching; and they are paying close attention to how 
we define problems, how we address problems, and how we as a body get 
around to solving problems that they're concerned about. And I think 
they're really learning so very much.
  They are learning that we have a philosophical difference in how we 
choose to address these problems. Some of my colleagues want to see 
this played out in the health care debate where they would choose to 
have a government-centered plan, and then there are those of us that 
would like to have a patient-centered, taxpayer-friendly way to address 
this.
  And we do have lots of ideas. We, as Republicans, have brought 
forward so many ideas and so many bills that would do just that, to 
address the health care and medical concerns of our constituents.
  What they want is more affordable cost, ease of access, making 
certain that we address access to affordable insurance for those that 
have preexisting and existing conditions. And we can do that and be 
friendly to the American taxpayer.

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