Competition Is Needed For Health Care Reform

Floor Speech

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Mr. FLEMING. Mr. Speaker, as we continue to learn more about the single-payer, government takeover of the health care system proposed by my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, I would like to point out why this isn't a good idea.

First, we can't afford it. Cost estimates are now up to $3.5 trillion of money we don't have. Medicare, even with heavy subsidies from private insurance, is on the course of bankruptcy. How will we afford a Medicare-for-all program?

Let me be clear, the government cannot be both competitor and make up the rules of the game. It would be like Microsoft being put in control of the Internet. How would other companies compete with Microsoft?

A single-payer system option will erode the private insurance market that is propping up the public health plan we have today. It is becoming very clear that the public option group has the ultimate goal of destroying competition and choice and substituting it with a government takeover of our health care system.

So what is the end game here? The end game is that once the Federal Government gains full control of our health care system and steps between you and your doctor, we will have exploding budgets which will lead to rationing.

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