Lipinski Opposes Fiscally Irresponsible Doctor Payment Bill

Press Release

Lipinski Opposes Fiscally Irresponsible Doctor Payment Bill

Today, Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) took a stand for fiscal responsibility and against new health care spending that adds to America's deficit, voting against the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act, which does nothing to offset its budget-busting price tag of up to $300 billion over the next ten years, and does nothing to institute needed reforms. The bill, H.R. 3961, passed the House of Representatives 243-183.

"My vote was part of my commitment not to support the larger health care reform bill unless it is fully paid for and does not add to the deficit," Congressman Lipinski said. "The only reason the physician payment legislation was not included in the health care reform bill was that it would have increased the pressure on Congress to find a way to pay for it. Making it into a separate measure was nothing but inside-the-Beltway sleight-of-hand.

"My vote does not mean I favor allowing drastic cuts in Medicare reimbursements for doctors if this will hurt care for seniors. We must protect seniors' access to doctors, but we need to pay for it.

"There are those that may try to misrepresent what this vote means. That is unfortunate. But the people I represent make difficult decisions every day based on what they can and cannot afford. They expect me to do the same thing in Washington, not to sweep problems under the rug."

Congressman Lipinski has said repeatedly that he will not support the health care reform bill if it increases America's deficit. Last fiscal year's deficit of $1.4 trillion was the largest relative to the size of the economy in more than 60 years.

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