Barton Balks at Giving ObamaCare a Blank Check

Statement

Rep. Joe Barton (R-Ennis/Arlington), Chairman Emeritus and senior Republican on the Energy and Commerce Committee, submitted for the record the following opening statement Wednesday at the Subcommittee on Health hearing entitled "Setting Fiscal Priorities in Health Care Funding."

"With the state of our economy right now, and the massive debt we are incurring, it is imperative that we reign in spending in order to protect our country's financial stability. In the President's FY 2012 budget request, 59% of the budget was mandatory spending -- spending outside of Congressional oversight by bypassing the normal appropriations process. Now is the time to cut spending, which won't be easy or pleasant, but will result in a stronger, more stable America.

"The sections of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act which we will examine today are especially egregious, in that they sensationally give the Secretary of Health and Human Services a blank check to the U.S. Treasury. If these programs are so essential, they should be authorized by Congress every year, to protect the American taxpayers from waste and to ensure the Constitutional concept of checks and balances remains in place.

"I look forward to hearing from our witnesses, and to discussing how we can reduce mandatory spending."

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