Issue Position: Health Care

Issue Position

I have joined more than 240 of my fellow Members of Congress in voting for H.R. 2, a bill to repeal the government takeover of health care. I am also an original cosponsor of H. Res. 9, which puts the repeal into action by requiring all House committees with jurisdiction to replace the misguided national health care law with a more patient-oriented approach that lowers costs and still seeks to provide access to care. This legislation was my first priority as a newly elected Representative because thousands of central Oklahomans have strongly encouraged me to repeal this federal takeover of health care as soon as possible. I am glad to tell you that both bills passed the House by a large margin.

If the mandated national health care law remains in place, the long term fiscal implications for our nation are disastrous. Sweeping promises have been made about future health care, but in reality the current law will impose $569.2 billion in tax hikes on families and small businesses, cut $523.5 billion from seniors' Medicare benefits, and lead to unprecedented government intervention in your health care decisions. The law further reduces health care options by cutting popular FSAs, HSAs, and Medicare Advantage. In addition, it taxes medical devices that the disabled depend on, including pacemakers, hearing aids, prosthetics, and wheelchairs.

Simply put, most Americans reject the notion that government should be intimately involved in their health care decisions. I have heard from many of my fellow Oklahomans, who tell me they prefer the freedom to make their own decisions in consultation with their doctor, not bureaucrats in Washington.

Updated July 29, 2011

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