Senate Amendments To H.R. 3590, Service Members Home Ownership Tax Act Of 2009, And H.R. 4872, Health Care And Education Reconciliation Act Of 2010--Continued

Floor Speech

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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong opposition to the eventual government takeover of health care that took place on the floor of the House today.

Though I strongly believe that America needs health care reform, I cannot in good conscience cast a vote for a bill that will take our country down the path of bankruptcy.

This deeply flawed legislation raids Medicare, which faces insolvency in 2017, by over half a trillion dollars in order to create a massive new entitlement program. It raises taxes on our families and small businesses by over half a trillion dollars. It will lead to increases in insurance premiums, increase overall spending on health care by over $200 billion and will result in job losses. This bill will also increase the national debt and deficit, leaving our children and grandchildren to pay the price.

Today Democrat leadership abused and manipulated the legislative process for political gain, in an effort to force an eventual government takeover of health care that the American people do not want. This legislation was drafted in secret and is loaded with backroom deals for certain Members of Congress and special interests. The American people need, demand and deserve health care reform that will increase access, improve quality and lower costs. What the American people do not want is this ill-conceived legislation that will bankrupt our country and leave a lasting negative impact on generations to come.

Nothing is more sacred in this country then our freedom and democracy. These are the fundamental principles that make America the greatest country in the world, and I cannot and will not vote for legislation that jeopardizes the freedom, democracy, prosperity and opportunity of future generations of Americans.

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