Lee Fights For Common Sense, Fiscally Responsible Health Care Reform

Press Release

This evening, Congressman Chris Lee (NY-26) expressed his opposition to a government-run, taxpayer-funded health care proposal that unfairly targets working families and small businesses with billions in tax increases, does not include meaningful liability reform and implements drastic cuts to Medicare and other effective senior health care programs such as Medicare Advantage.
The House of Representatives passed the Senate's controversial health care bill H.R. 3590 by a final vote of 219 - 212 with 34 Democrats opposing and no Republicans voting for the measure. In addition, the House passed H.R. 4872, the Reconciliation Act of 2010, which included so-called "fixes" to make the package palatable to House Democrats, by a final vote of 220-211. The Senate's original bill, H.R. 3590, will now proceed to the President to be signed into law while the reconciliation "fixes" package will be considered in the Senate.
"Western New Yorkers deserve health care reform that actually reforms America's health care system to lower costs, expands access and improves quality -- not simply add huge new costs onto the backs of our children and seniors through tax increases, deficit spending and cuts to Medicare," said Congressman Lee. "We cannot prescribe to the "Washington knows best' philosophy that continues to plague our nation's capital. This legislation will not enact meaningful health care reform or lower costs but will instead create a government takeover of our health care system that will lead to higher taxes and debt, lost coverage, poorer quality care and fewer jobs."
Washington Democrats' final health care bill is 2,309 pages long and packed with sweetheart deals that will cost taxpayers $1.2 trillion. The bill requires 10 years of tax increases and Medicare cuts to pay for six years of supposed benefits, which do not go into effect until 2014. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office says the measure will increase premiums for middle-class families. In addition, it includes:

- $569 billion in new taxes on working families, small businesses and large employers. $17 billion in new taxes on Americans who do not comply with the individual mandate, nearly half of all these new taxes will be paid by working families making less than $66,000. $52 billion in new taxes on employers that do not provide health coverage deemed "acceptable" by government bureaucrats, and new taxes on capital gains, dividends and interest that will further stifle economic growth and job creation.

- Expands the responsibilities of the IRS. The IRS will have to hire up to 16,500 additional auditors, to enforce all the new taxes and penalties. The IRS will need up to $10 billion to administer the new health care program.

- $523 billion in cuts to Medicare Advantage and other Medicare programs for seniors. This would affect the nearly 61,000 seniors in New York's 26th Congressional District who are currently enrolled in a MA plan.

- Creates 160 new boards, bureaus, and commissions to administer new programs.

- Government takeover of the student loan industry which will cost hundreds of Western New York jobs. Democratic leaders have attached language to the health care bill that will eliminate private student loan lending and require students to borrow directly from the federal government. A private student loan lender, Pioneer Credit Recovery, located in Wyoming County which employs about 1,000 Western New Yorkers will be severely affected by this legislation.

"We need health care reform because our current system is unsustainable," said Congressman Lee. "However, the proposal before us is not what Western New Yorkers have asked for, not what they can afford and not what they deserve. I will continue to fight for meaningful health care reform to increase affordability and accessibility."

Throughout the last year, Congressman Lee has advocated for a fiscally responsible health care reform plan. His proposal, H.R. 3970, the Medical Rights and Reform Act, implements real reforms to ensure better, more affordable health care is available for all Americans. The Medical Rights and Reform Act achieves these goals without raising taxes, adding to the budget deficit, or having the federal government take over the system.

This proposal contains a number of great ideas to reduce costs and improve outcomes, including:

- Allows young people up to age 26, access to their parent's health insurance, which will reduce the number of uninsured by at least 7 million.

- Real malpractice liability reform so doctors don't have to practice defensive medicine and hospitals don't need to keep teams of lawyers on retainer.

- The development of electronic medical records so primary care physicians, specialists, and hospitals can quickly share patient information to help improve care and eliminate mistakes.

- Allows individuals to buy health insurance across state lines which will drive competition and lower costs.

- Ensures that no person is denied health care because of a pre-existing condition.

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