Graves Statement On Passage Of Job-killing Health Care Bill

Press Release

Tonight, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi forced passage of a massive government takeover of health care on a purely partisan vote. House Small Business Committee Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO) joined 177Republicans and 34 Democrats in voting against this job-killing plan to put the government between doctors and patients.

"After more than a year of debate on the right way to improve our health care system, we have ended up with a proposal that is chock full of bad ideas, sky-high taxes, and impossible regulations and mandates. Not only will it dramatically increase the role of government in health care and trap Americans in a web of bureaucratic red tape, it is virtually guaranteed to kill jobs. This move to take control of one-sixth of our economy will stop economic growth in its tracks.

My Republican colleagues and I tried repeatedly to reach across the aisle to craft a better bill that would increase access and lower costs for all Americans, without piling more unsustainable debt on future generations. It is disappointing that, rather than listen to their counterparts and the American people, the President and Majority chose to push a completely partisan bill through Congress and down the throats of citizens."

On Tuesday, March 16th, Ranking Member Graves joined more than 120 Republicans on the House floor to urge a fresh start on health care reform. Video of Ranking Member Graves' floor speech, along with videos of other House Small Business Committee Republicans' speeches on health care reform, can be found here.

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