    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book I)]
    [February 17, 2007]
    [Pages 157-159]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    February 17, 2007

        Good morning. Today I would like to talk to you about an urgent
    priority for our Nation: confronting the rising costs of health care.

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        In my State of the Union Address, I invited Democrats and
    Republicans in Congress to work with my administration to reform our
    health care system. In the past few weeks, I've discussed my health care
    proposals with citizens across our country. Next week, I'll visit a
    hospital in Tennessee to hear directly from people who do not have
    access to basic, affordable health insurance. I will also meet with a
    panel of experts at the White House to discuss how we can build a
    vibrant market where individuals can buy their own health insurance.
        The problem with our current system is clear: Health care costs are
    rising rapidly, more than twice as fast as wages. These rising costs are
    driving up the price of health insurance and making it harder for
    working families to afford coverage. These rising costs also make it
    harder for small businesses to offer health coverage to their employees.
    We must address these rising costs so that more Americans can afford
    basic private health insurance.
        One of the most promising ways to make private coverage more
    affordable and accessible is to reform the Tax Code. Today, the Tax Code
    unfairly penalizes people who do not get health insurance through their
    job. If you buy health insurance on your own, you pay much more after
    taxes than if you get it through your job. I proposed to end this unfair
    bias in the Tax Code by creating a standard tax deduction for every
    American who has health insurance, whether they get it through their job
    or on their own.
        For example, every family that has health insurance would get a
    $15,000 deduction on their taxes. This deduction would also apply to
    payroll taxes so that even those who pay no income taxes would benefit.
    Americans deserve a level playing field. If you're self-employed, a
    farmer, a rancher, or an employee at a small business who buys health
    insurance on your own, you should get the same tax advantage as those
    who get their health insurance through their job at a big business.
        At the same time, I proposed Affordable Choices grants to help
    States provide coverage for the uninsured. Governors across our country
    have put forward innovative ideas for health care reform. Under my
    proposal, States that make basic private health insurance available to
    all their citizens would receive Federal funds to help them provide this
    coverage to the poor and the sick. Next week, the Nation's Governors
    will come to Washington to discuss challenges facing their States. I've
    asked my Secretary of Health and Human Services, Mike Leavitt, to meet with the Governors and discuss ways we can
    work together to help reduce the number of uninsured Americans.
        Reforming health care is a bipartisan priority. Earlier this week, I
    was pleased to receive a letter from 10 Senators--5 Democrats and 5
    Republicans--who expressed their desire to work together on health care
    reform. I look forward to discussing our proposals and hearing more
    about their ideas. I appreciate the commitment of this bipartisan group
    to work with my administration, and I will continue to reach across
    party lines to enact commonsense health care reforms.
        From my conversations with Democrats and Republicans, it is clear
    both parties recognize that strengthening health care for all Americans
    is one of our most important responsibilities. I am confident that if we
    put politics aside, we can find practical ways to improve our private
    health care system and help millions of Americans enjoy better care, new
    choices, and healthier lives.
        Thank you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 8 a.m. on February 16 in the Cabinet
    Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on February 17. The
    transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    February 16, but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The
    Office of the Press

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    Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of this address.