DFW Congressman talks Federal Takeover of Health Care
FORNEY TEXAS U.S. Congressman Jeb Hensarling (TX-05) a leading fiscal conservative who is the 2nd ranking Republican on the House Budget Committee met with constituents today in Forney to discuss the recent passage of the government takeover of health care. Hensarling spoke about his opposition to and explained how the legislation could be repealed and replaced with reforms that protect the doctor-patient relationship while not bankrupting future generations.
The health care legislation recently passed by Washington Democrats and signed into law by President Obama will unalterably change the role of government in a society whose most cherished birthright is that of personal freedom" said Hensarling.
No matter what Washington Democrats claim the recently enacted health care legislation is nothing more than a government takeover that takes control of your health care decisions away from you and your doctor and gives it to the federal government. If you love the way the federal government is running AIG our banks and our auto companies youll love the way they will run your health care."
Dubbed Rep. Budget Reform" for his efforts to return accountability to Washington spending by reigning in the wasteful spending deficits and debt with which the federal government is saddling future generations of Americans Hensarling vocally opposed the federal government takeover of our health care.
Hensarling discussed impacts that Kaufman County residents could expect to see as a result of passage of the government takeover.
The government takeover legislation is going to be felt by practically every man woman and child in Kaufman County" said Hensarling.
For instance nearly 1 out of 5 Kaufman County seniors currently enjoy health benefits through a Medicare Advantage plan. Under the government takeover Medicare Advantage plans are estimated to be cut by over $200 billion which the
Administrations own Chief Actuary at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has estimated will result in lower Medicare Advantage enrollment. So despite President Obamas assurances otherwise Kaufman County seniors may not be able to keep their current coverage."
Hensarling also discussed the impact the government takeover will have on small businesses in Kaufman County.
If you are a small business you are going to see higher costs and taxes as a result of this legislation. The government takeover requires small business owners to provide federally-approved health insurance for your employees or else you get slapped with a fine of up to $2000 per full-time employee. Even though creating jobs is the stated top priority of President Obama and Washington Democrats at a time when our economy is struggling and millions of Americans are out of work I fail to see how passing a government takeover of health care that will increase the costs and taxes of small businesses already struggling to make ends meet as is will somehow create jobs."
Hensarling explained the impact this legislation will have on the federal budget.
Our government cant even pay for the promises it has made current generations much less future generations" said Hensarling. After giving us the largest deficits in American history after proposing to triple the national debt in the next 10 years Democrats have now added $2.6 trillion of health care takeover spending to the federal budget at a $22000 cost to every household."
Hensarling then explained what this means for the family budget which has to pay for the federal budget.
Kaufman County families already bear a burden of over $30000 per household just to pay for the federal government we have today. Adding on the costs of the government takeover of health care will only add to these costs leaving future generations with an even greater debt burden than the one we were going to leave them with in the first place."
Hensarling warned You cannot improve the health care of the nation by
bankrupting its children."
Hensarling then outlined what he sees as the problem with health care today. There is no doubt that we must reform health care in America" said Hensarling.
Health care is expensive in America because there is so much waste fraud and abuse associated with it. Thats what happens when the government and insurance companies make too many decisions about your health care."
Hensarling then discussed several solutions that he believes will lower health care costs and not result a government takeover of health care.
Any meaningful health care reform aimed at lowering the cost of health care must begin with medical liability reform" said Hensarling.
Precious health care resources are wasted because physicians have to over-utilize health care and practice defensive medicine when treating patients in order to protect themselves from junk lawsuits pursued by personal injury lawyers. Enacting medical liability reforms would lower health care costs by cutting down on the practice of defensive medicine. That is why Ive cosponsored the Help Efficient Accessible Low-cost Timely Health Care Act (H.R. 1086) which will reduce the wasteful health care spending arising from junk lawsuits."
Hensarling also spoke in favor of allowing Americans to purchase health care coverage across state lines. Americans can currently purchase their car insurance from a company in Virginia with the little green lizard with a British accent. Health care insurance should be no different. That is why Ive cosponsored the Health Care Choice Act (H.R. 3217) which will allow Americans to purchase the coverage that is right for them regardless of where the policy is sold in the United States."
Hensarling also discussed his support for eliminating the unequal tax treatment of health care purchased by businesses and individuals. People should be given the same tax incentive to go out into the marketplace to purchase their own health insurance that businesses are to provide health care for their employees" said Hensarling a co-sponsor of legislation (H.R. 4529) that would make the health insurance tax benefit personal.
By empowering individuals to purchase personal health coverage and have the same tax-advantaged basis as employer-provided coverage we can free people to shop for coverage that best suits them."
Hensarling concluded But even more than cost this is really a debate about who will control the health care resources of this nation and who will control the health care decisions of our families. In America we must never confuse the social safety net with the slippery slope to socialism. When it comes to the health care of my family when it comes to the health care of my country I reject the arrogance of government social engineering and I embrace the affordability and portability that comes with preserving the liberties of the American people."
Hensarling is the cosponsor of two bills to repeal the government takeover of health care; H.R. 4903 and H.R. 4972.
