Health Care Reform Message

Press Release

Health Care Reform Message

After months of discussion, the House of Representatives is expected to vote on an Obama-Pelosi-Reid health care reform package today. U.S. Representative John Boozman (R-AR) today issued a video health care reform message reaffirming his commitment to voting against the bill that raises taxes, cuts Medicare and doesn't protect veterans TRICARE benefits.

The following is text of the message. To watch the video click here.

We all agree America needs health care reform. We all deserve access to quality and affordable health care, but we want a bill that can improve our health care system by fixing the problems, not overhauling the entire system which makes up 1/6th of our economy.

I have read your emails and letters and talked with many of you in the past months. From our discussions it's clear that this health care reform bill being pushed by President Obama, Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid is not what Arkansans want. That's why I'm happy to vote against this health care legislation.

The American people deserve legislation that can pass on its merits, not procedural maneuvering. I believe the steps Speaker Pelosi is taking is an abuse of power and not the way our Founding Fathers envisioned the government working for the people.

I believe the best way to reform our system is through free market principles like opening up competition and allowing us all to buy health insurance across state lines, allowing us to own our health plans much like we own our car insurance and letting small businesses pool their resources to get the best health care plans for their employees.

We owe it to Arkansans and all Americans to fight for real health care reform that doesn't raise new taxes and cut Medicare programs and again I will vote against health care reform legislation that comes before me in the coming days.

Source