[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 19]
[House]
[Page 26538]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              HEALTH CARE

  (Mr. ALEXANDER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3962 states in section 1 that the 
legislation builds on what's broken in today's health care system and 
repairs at the same time. I agree that improvements need to be made in 
the existing health care system, but placing individuals under one 
umbrella doesn't build on what's working or repair what's not.
  The bill includes a government-run public option that cuts Medicare 
and Medicare Advantage programs and raises taxes on middle class 
families. In addition, the bill does not protect the interests of small 
business, nor does it adequately address defensive medicine. And in the 
midst of States struggling with financial constraints, it will burden 
them with more unfunded mandates from the Federal Government.
  This latest proposal may be a different name, but even with a new 
name, the legislation remains a government takeover of health care.

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