Congressman Brian Bilbray's Principles on Health Care Reform
Recently, the House of Representatives took up the debate on overhauling our nation's health care system. Rejecting our current system, H.R. 3200, the Affordable Health Choices Act, seeks to establish a national health plan run by the federal government. While I believe we need to make changes so that more people can have access to quality health care, I disagree with my colleagues who believe the federal government can do this by forcing a nationalized system of health care upon we, the citizens.
My Principles
What I Will Not Support:
1. I will not support a single-payer system of health care.
2. I will not support a nationalized system of health delivery that can only lead to longer wait-times for patients, a lack of health professionals and the under funding of physicians.
3. I will not support a new massive tax on American citizens and small businesses to pay for nationalized health care.
4. I will not support any nationalized system of health care that decreases motivation for investment in the companies creating innovative solutions to our nation's health challenges.
5. I will not support any nationalized system of health care that does not specifically take into consideration private insurance reform.
6. I will not support any nationalized system of health care that does not include tort reform and malpractice insurance reform.
What I Will Support:
1. I support reforming our health care system.
2. I support expanding access to health care.
3. I support increasing our quality of health care.
4. I support federal assistance that will help to increase investment in the American companies who create innovative solutions to our nation's health care challenges.
5. I support private insurance reform, to include being able to cross state-lines to purchase insurance.
6. I support small businesses being able to work together to purchase health insurance plans competitive to large-company plans.
7. I support medical tort reform.
The main bill being debated today, H.R. 3200, is wrong for our country and wrong for San Diego. Raising taxes, creating a government-run health care system and making people wait for lower-quality health care is exactly the wrong corrective measure for our broken health care system. We can fix the system without letting bureaucrats gain more control over our lives. If you have any questions, please call me at 202-225-0508.