Rep. Poe On Health Care
Statement
Rep. Poe On Health Care
Dear Neighbors,
I don't know what's hotter: August in Texas or the debate over health care reform? As Congress prepares to head home for August, health care reform remains on the table. Because the American people demanded that their voices be heard, legislation will not be rushed through Congress at break-neck speed.
While I do not agree with a status-quo approach, I also do not agree that a "hurry-up and pass something" approach is in the best interest of reform. It's more important to get it right, rather than just get it done.
I firmly believe the best government is a limited government - and this is especially true when it comes to health care. More government equals more problems.
I support a plan that relies on a few basic principles:
* Patients have control over their health care decisions, not bureaucrats
* Coverage is affordable, accessible and portable; regardless of job change or loss
* Patients and small businesses are allowed to unite to increase their purchasing power
* Patients have access to the highest quality care available regardless of pre-existing conditions; and
* A safety-net for catastrophic illnesses that exceed coverage limits
In addition, I support tax credits for health care expenses - not tax increases. There must be provisions for medical liability reform in order to reduce costs for both patients and doctors. The current proposal not only would require a tax increase to pay for it, but it will also tax health care benefits and fail to protect doctors from practicing costly defensive medicine.
The Administration's plan increases the cost of health care for everyone, forces millions of Americans to lose their current health care coverage and dramatically increases the deficit. It will cost over $1,000,000,000,000($1 trillion) and create 53 new permanent bureaucracies over the next ten years - and that's just an estimate. When has the federal government ever spent LESS than expected? If you think its expensive now, wait until it's free.
There are currently too many people in the system that do not contribute to it financially, including the 20 million-plus people living here illegally. The Administration's plan will add to this number exponentially and will lead to rationing of services and poor quality of care.
Read my recent floor speeches:
Nationalized Health Care and Illegals
http://poe.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=138105
Taxes are the Root of all Federal Mischief
http://poe.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=137354
Recent reports have shown that there are more doctors leaving their profession than joining it. This is a frightening trend and it will continue if we move towards more federal control. People come to the United States, particularly the Texas Medical Center in Houston, because it's still the best care in the world. We cannot move to a system that doesn't allow our baby boomers and beyond care because some bureaucrat decides their quality of life factor doesn't meet "the standards."
I do not support a "one-size-fits-all" plan that would eliminate individual freedom of choice and force Americans into a government-run health care system. I will NOT support a bill that gives decision-making power to a 25-year-old bureaucrat over a medical doctor.
We don't have to look at Europe and Canada for examples of failed government heath care systems. Our own Veterans Affairs and Native American Indian Health Care systems are riddled with far too many bureaucratic disasters to list.
Read my recent floor speeches:
"Native American Indians Health Care: Government Medical Malpractice"
http://poe.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=138108
http://poe.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=138410
This is important to every American. This is not just about those that are currently without coverage - EVERYONE at EVERY AGE seeking medical care in our country will be affected.
Last month in an online poll, 84 percent of you said that you do not support government-run health care. A recent study by the Lewin Group predicts that two-out-of-every-three Americans will lose their current health care coverage under the Administration's current plan. Please take a moment to answer the following poll on whether or not you are satisfied with your current health care plan.
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