Empower Patients, Not Government

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, President Obama and his Democrat allies in Congress have said that they want those who currently like their health care plans to keep them. Then they publicly endorse a government-run health care insurance plan that would crowd out and eliminate the private insurance plans millions of Americans currently enjoy. They cannot have it both ways.

The Democrat big government proposals claim to increase access and affordability by letting government determine what will and will not be paid for. As the only game in town, a government insurance plan would be the sole provider and decider of the quality of health care available. Conversely, Republicans have long argued that health care reform should focus on expanding access so more Americans can afford a higher quality of care.

We should be focused on empowering more individuals and families to afford the level of care they want. If Congress chooses to empower the government and itself in crafting a new government-run insurance plan, it will directly undermine the doctor-patient relationship that is the foundation of quality American health care.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th and the global war on terrorism.

END TRANSCRIPT

Source