Reconciliation Act Of 2010

Floor Speech

* Mr. SIMPSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 3590 and H.R. 4872. Passage of this legislation represents the first step to a government takeover of our health care system. Everyone agrees that our health care system needs to be reformed. Health care in America is too expensive and too many families across America are worried about losing or have already lost their health coverage. Businesses, small and large alike, are struggling to provide health insurance for their employees.

* Unfortunately, rather than working on real reforms to improve access to health care for all Americans, Democrats have chosen to pass a trillion dollar bill that would raise Americans' taxes, create a massive new tax burden, and do little to address the problems in our current health system. The frightening reality for the American taxpayer and anyone who will need health care in the future is that the Democrats are hiding the true costs of these bills and doing so in ways that will be disastrous to our Nation's long-term fiscal health. Instead of creating another absurdly expensive government program, we should work to make health care affordable and accessible for everyone.

* I strongly believe that there are a number of measures that all of us, regardless of party affiliation, support that will bring down costs and improve access to care for all Americans. These are not new ideas--they are, however, ideas that are critical to implementing real, affordable and effective health reform. First, we must pass effective medical malpractice reform. We should end the practice of banning the purchase of insurance across State lines, and we should pass legislation to allow small businesses to band together through associations to buy health care coverage. I also support provisions that prohibit insurers from denying coverage to those people with pre-existing conditions. Further, we need to do more as a country to focus on prevention and early intervention. As a dentist, I have seen the benefits of prevention and early intervention. We should be focusing more on how to prevent disease or treat it early when it is most cost-effective and the outcomes are best.

* Unfortunately, the Democrats' health reform bill fails to accomplish these goals. I am disappointed that President Obama and Speaker PELOSI have chosen to ignore the clear message from the American people by supporting a massive government takeover of our health system. Americans deserve REAL reform--not a partisan, gimmicky bill that will cost trillions of dollars and do little to improve care.

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