Op-Ed: Graves Concerned About Health Care Reform

Press Release

Op-Ed: Graves Concerned About Health Care Reform

If Sixth District U.S. Congressman Sam Graves has his way, the health care legislation under consideration by Congress would do more to keep government out of the operation of the U.S. health care system.

Rep. Graves, R-Tarkio, said that the current bill "makes absolutely no sense and does nothing to solve the problems with health care."

"It's outrageously expensive for one thing," Graves said in an interview this morning. "The government has done such a lousy job in running the veterans system, Medicare and Medicaid; why in the world do we want them making decisions about our health care?"

Graves tagged the current legislation as a "rationing system," noting that senior citizens and small businesses will be especially hurt by what is being proposed.

"My dad is 75 years old and I do not wanting the government being the one deciding whether or not he can have or is eligible to have certain medical procedures based on whether or not they are too expensive," Graves said.

Graves said he is hearing from small businesses about the costs of providing insurance for their employees, something that would be required under the new legislation.

"It's not that small business is against providing the insurance, it's just that it's getting so expensive for them to do so," Graves said. "For some reason, President Obama and House Leader (Nancy) Pelosi have decided that small business is evil and are forcing them to so something that is already costing them a fortune."

Graves suggests allowing small businesses go together and create a large pool that would allow them to buy insurance for their employees at a better rate.

"It's expensive for these small businesses with 10 or less employees to go out there and find good insurance at an affordable rate," he said. "If they could be part of a larger buying pool, premiums could be much less and make it more affordable for everyone."

He also suggests tort reform, something he says is not even addressed in the current legislation.

"That is one of the biggest cost drivers, these frivolous lawsuits that are allowed to be filed," he said. "We need to make changes and address that situation."

A third suggestion is to allow individuals to deduct the cost of their insurance premiums, something that business is allowed do to, but not offered to individuals.

"That's just not right," he said.

Graves said action on the health care legislation most likely will not be done before Congress goes on recess, which he said is a good thing.

"This administration believes that the less the public knows about things, the better off they will be and that they will deal with the fall out later," Graves said. "The health care issue has been different. People have gotten ahead of that and are beginning to understand some of the problems involved."

Graves also discussed the tax and cap legislation that is part of the energy bill also being considered by Congress. Graves said it is a bill that "pits the east and west coast against the Midwest and would be bad for us."

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