[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 20]
[House]
[Page 27123]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   EXPRESSING ARKANSAS THIRD DISTRICT CONSTITUENTS' CONCERNS ABOUT A 
                             PUBLIC OPTION

  (Mr. BOOZMAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, residents in Arkansas' Third District don't 
want a government takeover of health care. In a tele-town hall on 
Tuesday, I asked my constituents, are you supportive of a public option 
in health care reform? The overwhelming majority, 76 percent, said that 
they don't favor that plan.
  The reality is, this 1,990 page Pelosi health care bill includes a 
public option. My constituents don't want to federalize their health 
care. Like them, I believe this bill is a prescription for big 
government and an expense our country can't afford.
  Three weeks ago, my constituent, Andy Jacobs of Pottsville, Arkansas, 
sent me a letter, and he makes a great suggestion. ``Make a list of all 
the projects and programs the Federal Government operates and those 
that have seen the operating costs decrease.''
  I urge my colleagues to write that list. It doesn't take long to see 
there are few, if any, government-run programs that are cost-effective.
  Arkansas' Third Congressional District sees this bill for what it is, 
a tax increase.

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