Radanovich Response To Obama Healthcare Speech

Statement

Radanovich Response To Obama Healthcare Speech

Congressman George Radanovich (R-Mariposa) today released the following statement after President Barack Obama's joint address to Congress on healthcare reform:

"Tonight, the President gave another primetime speech on healthcare--the twenty-eighth national speech that he's given on the topic. The American people have grown tired of grandiose, campaign style rhetoric. They don't want another speech--they want a new healthcare plan.

"President Obama outlined general goals for what he would like health reform to look like, but the devil is in the details. If those details continue to include $800 billion in new taxes which could destroy up to 5.5 million jobs, such as the current House proposal, I think the public is going to say: ‘Thanks, but no thanks, Mr. President.'

"One thing is for sure--the vast majority of Americans are against a government takeover of their healthcare. Whether it is a public option, a public option "trigger", or a co-op that effectively turns into a public insurance option, the one message every Member of Congress heard loud and clear from their constituents this August was: ‘Keep the governments' hands off my healthcare.'

"At the end of the day, Americans want access to affordable healthcare, not merely access to insurance that won't provide quality care. We can achieve affordable access to healthcare through responsible reform.

"We should ensure American's are not denied coverage because of preexisting conditions. We need strong medical malpractice reform, and reductions in waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid. Associations and groups should be able to pool together and jointly purchase healthcare--expanding availability and reducing costs. Finally, individuals and businesses should be given flexibility with their health insurance and the ability to purchase insurance across state lines with pre-tax dollars.

"My Republican colleagues and I would love to work on a bipartisan solution to healthcare reform, and I was pleased to hear the President tonight again extend an offer to work together. I certainly hope that this time that offer is sincere.

"We have many common goals and even many solutions we agree on, and I hope things will be different in the future so that we are able to use those areas of agreement to meet the difficult challenges of comprehensive healthcare reform."

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