Health Care

Floor Speech

Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, there is an old saying, common in south Alabama, that we need to practice what we preach. Well, if reports are accurate, it sounds like Congress will be moving forward with health care legislation that contains a government-run public option, no matter how hard the Democratic leadership might try to rebrand this poison pill.

Well, I am going to oppose with every ounce of me a Federal takeover of our health care system. I couldn't agree more with our friend Dr. John Fleming of Louisiana, who has introduced a resolution that says that any Member of Congress who votes for a public option should be the first one to sign up for it. After all, if a public option is good enough for you, Mr. and Mrs. Taxpayer, then your elected Representative should be the first to try it out.

This is especially true for our seniors who are looking at draconian cuts to Medicare, cuts to Medicare Advantage, and, according to the CBO, a 20 percent increase in their prescription drug premiums over the next decade, not to mention higher taxes for all Americans, just to help pay for this major step towards socialized medicine.

Practicing what we preach means just that. Congress won't ask the American people to take any poison that we don't take first.

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