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October 30, 2009

The Hill Report: Week of October 26 - October 30, 2009


1,990 pages. That’s the length of the latest government-run health care bill that Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Congressional Democrats unveiled yesterday. With a cost estimate of over $1.05 Trillion, the new government-run health care bill is substantially similar to the old one.

In effect, House Democrats have announced that the voice of the American people doesn’t matter. Despite undeniable opposition from the American people, the Democrat Majority has written behind closed doors a government-run health care scheme that will increase health care costs, drive our nation deeper into debt, and raise taxes at a time when small businesses and families can least afford it.

If you would like to read the bill, click here to view an electronic copy posted by the House Rules Committee.  Additionally, below is a reading guide that highlights some of my top concerns:

Page 94—Prohibits the sale of private individual health insurance policies, beginning in 2013, forcing individuals to purchase coverage through the federal government

Page 110—Requires the use of federal dollars to fund abortions through the government-run health plan—and, if the Hyde Amendment were ever not renewed, would require the plan to fund elective abortions

Page 111—Establishes a new board of federal bureaucrats (the “Health Benefits Advisory Committee”) to dictate the health plans that all individuals must purchase

Page 211—Establishes a new government-run health plan that, according to non-partisan actuaries at the Lewin Group, would cause as many as 114 million Americans to lose their existing coverage

Page 225—Permits—but does not require—Members of Congress to enroll in government-run health care

Page 255—Includes language requiring verification of income for individuals wishing to receive federal health care subsidies under the bill—while the bill includes a requirement for applicants to verify their citizenship, it does not include a similar requirement to verify applicants’ identity, thus encouraging identity fraud for undocumented immigrants and others wishing to receive taxpayer-subsidized health benefits

Page 297—Imposes a 2.5 percent tax on all individuals who do not purchase “bureaucrat-approved” health insurance—the tax would apply on individuals with incomes under $250,000, thus breaking a central promise of then-Senator Obama’s presidential campaign

Page 313—Imposes an 8 percent “tax on jobs” for firms that cannot afford to purchase “bureaucrat-approved” health coverage; according to an analysis by Harvard Professor Kate Baicker, such a tax would place millions “at substantial risk of unemployment”

Page 336—Imposes additional job-killing taxes, in the form of a half-trillion dollar “surcharge,” more than half of which will hit small businesses; according to a model developed by President Obama’s senior economic advisor, such taxes could cost up to 5.5 million jobs

Page 520—Cuts more than $150 billion from Medicare Advantage plans, potentially jeopardizing millions of seniors’ existing coverage

Page 733—Establishes a new Center for Comparative Effectiveness Research; the bill includes no provisions preventing the government-run health plan from using such research to deny access to life-saving treatments on cost grounds, similar to Britain’s National Health Service, which denies patient treatments costing more than £35,000

Page 1174—Includes provisions entitled “TAXES ON CERTAIN INSURANCE POLICIES” to fund comparative effectiveness research, breaking Speaker Pelosi’s promise that “We will not be taxing [health] benefits in any bill that passes the House,” and President Obama’s promise not to raise taxes on families with incomes under $250,000

The House could vote on this massive government takeover of health care as early as next week. Instead of empowering people to control their own health care destiny, Democrat leaders in Congress are speeding to advance a radical political agenda of government control over personal decision-making.

The American people deserve much better. That is why I will continue to stand with the American people, holding the Democrat Majority accountable for their reckless policies and offering real solutions for our nation’s health care challenges. To learn more about House Republican health care reform bills, visit healthcare.gop.gov.

Heroes of the Past and Future

This month, I had the opportunity to spend time with both Veteran heroes and heroes in the making. On October 9th, I visited Thomas C. Marsh Middle School with local Medal of Honor recipients to address the school’s Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC).  

North Texas residents Robert D. Maxell (a World War II veteran), Rodolfo “Rudy” P. Hernandez (a Korean War veteran), and Robert Martin Patterson (a Vietnam Veteran) have all received Presidential Medals of Honor for their heroism and bravery in combat. I was honored for the opportunity to join them in speaking to the JROTC students of Marsh Middle School about the importance of serving our country. Together, we encouraged the students to utilize a few keys to success: stay in school, study hard, and maintain personal disciplines. 

I enjoyed the opportunity to speak with JROTC students and to thank the Medal of Honor recipients for their exceptional service and dedication to our great nation.  The JROTC has given students at Marsh Middle School an opportunity to grow as leaders and recognize their ability to make a difference in America ’s future.

As you may know, the JROTC was developed in 1916 to motivate young people to become better citizens. The JROTC has transformed over the years and has expanded to 1,645 programs in schools across the country. The JROTC instructors, who are all Army retirees, serve as mentors who strive to develop outstanding young citizens.

 

 

 

October 2009 Weekly Newsletters