Burgess Statement On Senate Finance Committee's Health Care Reform Bill

Statement

Burgess Statement On Senate Finance Committee's Health Care Reform Bill

Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-Texas), Chairman of the Congressional Health Care Caucus, released the following statement after the Senate Finance Committee approved, by a vote of 14-9, their version of health care reform legislation:

"Despite Chairman Baucus' efforts to produce a bipartisan health care reform bill, the Senate Finance Committee's product still missed the mark. I do believe reforms are needed to our country's health care system, and Republicans and Democrats agree on many ways to accomplish reform, but this bill is not the answer.

"The Senate Finance Committee bill continues Washington's out-of-control spending spree while making drastic cuts to Medicare at the expense of America's seniors. Even then, the bill would leave millions of Americans without insurance, place additional burdens on states, raise premiums for the majority of Americans who currently have insurance, and place new federal government mandates and penalties on individuals. According to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the Senate Finance Committee bill would cost Texas more than $20 billion over 10 years, and premiums for 91 percent of Texans who buy insurance in the individual market will go up.

"Still missing from all of the Democrats' health care reform proposals is meaningful medical liability reform and measures to ensure America's patients will have a doctor to see them.

"The Senate Finance Committee's bill is not health care reform I could have supported, and throughout the remainder of the legislative process, I will continue to offer my ideas for the kind of health care reform Americans want and need."

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