Lummis Stands With American People Against Obama Care

Press Release

U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., stood with the overwhelming majority of American people tonight by voting against final passage of the Democrat's $1 trillion job-killing government takeover of the nation's health care system.

"The American people don't want this bill," Lummis said. "They don't want an arrogant Congress bent on shoving this plan down their throats, not because they asked for it, but because Washington thinks it's for their own good.

"People in Wyoming want more health care choices. They want the freedom to choose their health plan and their doctor. They want to keep more of their hard earned money to get through this recession. And they desperately want a government that is capable, and willing, to rescue our country from a mountain of debt and broken promises. This bill is an utter failure on all counts."

Buried within the contents of the more than 2,000 page bill, H.R. 3590, is a new regime of government-run health insurance exchanges and one-size-fits all rules for insurance plans that would cause as many as 10 million Americans to lose their current coverage. The bill also increases national health spending and private insurance premiums, and creates trillions of dollars in new federal spending.

"This bill is a story of promises -- broken promises made to the American people," Lummis continued. "President Obama promised that if you like your plan, you can keep it. But you can't under this bill. This bill moves health care decisions to Washington.

"The President also promised that if you make less than $200,000 per year, he wouldn't raise your taxes. But there are a dozen tax increases in this bill that will affect everyone regardless of income, not just the wealthy. This bill is tantamount to a heavy handed big government takeover of our health care system."

"Throughout this year-long debate, Republicans have stood with the American people in support of common sense health care reforms aimed at lowering health care costs. Under the plan I supported, individuals could buy health insurance across state lines, small businesses could pool together to purchase plans at lower costs, people with pre-existing conditions would receive access to affordable coverage, and more people would be able to take their health plans with them from job to job."

H.R. 3590 will also:

* Create new insurance mandates and regulations that will raise premiums and encourage employers to drop coverage;

* Create a board of unelected bureaucrats (Independent Medicare Advisory Board) empowered to re-write Medicare statutes in a way that could lead to government rationing of health care;

* Implement tens of billions of dollars in unfunded state mandates in the form of a Medicaid expansion;

* Tax all Americans -- individuals who purchase insurance, individuals who do not purchase insurance, and small and large businesses alike -- which will kill jobs and raise premiums;

* Cut Medicare Advantage plans that would result in higher premiums and drop coverage for more than 10 million seniors; and,

* Use Medicare savings to create new entitlements now instead of to pay out future benefits.

Source