Moran's Statement On Senate Health Care Overhaul

Statement

Congressman Jerry Moran commented today on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's announcement that Democrats have reached an agreement to secure the 60 votes needed to pass health care reform in the Senate. Moran opposes Senator Reid's plan.

"On Saturday, Sente Majority Leader Reid emerged from back room dealings and unveiled his "compromise' health care reform bill," Moran said. "Unfortunately, I am concerned that the only thing this plan will compromise is Kansans' access to health care.

"Instead of working to rationally address the problems in our current system, Majority Leader Reid has chosen to turn our health care system on its head and gamble with millions of American lives and one-sixth of our economy.

"My greatest disappointment with these developments is the crass, unprincipled actions of elected officials. It appears that senators have obtained special treatment and favors in return for their votes. This is an outrage. Senators are putting their own narrow, political interests above the best interests of our country and its people. Congress should be about developing good public policy-not a place where votes are garnered in return for political favors. To vote for a plan because of promises and preferential treatment is wrong and irresponsible. Public servants must put country above self.

"I am also opposed to provisions in the Senate plan that would reverse more than 30 years of federal law banning the government funding of abortion. I am deeply disappointed that Senate Democrats ignored the loud bipartisan message from the House that expressly prohibited federal funding of abortions in health care reform legislation.

"I encourage Kansans to continue their efforts to make certain their voices are heard regarding these important issues."

Moran is Chairman of the House Rural Health Care Coalition and co-founder of the Congressional Community Pharmacy Coalition.

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