Speaker Pelosi gives a speech about health care on Captiol Hill
Despite numerous false accusations that republicans have never offered their own proposals for health care reform, the GOP has unveiled another proposal. The 230 page draft has been prepared to offer as an alternative to the new health care bill unveiled last week by the democrats. Republicans have anticipated more of the same accusations that they have encountered in their attempts to voice their own ideas to the heavily liberal Congress, and they intend to come armed to the debate over democrats' new health care bill.
Absent from the republican proposal are key features of the democrats' own legislation, such as mandates for employers to insure employees. Such a requirement creates additional burdens on small businesses that already struggle to keep their doors open. The republican draft also does not require Americans to purchase insurance, another feature of the democrats' bill to which many object, nor does it force insurance companies to insure those with pre-existing health conditions, as the democrats' bill would do, driving up insurance premiums dramatically.
Yet the draft offered by republicans does more than simply strike out elements of democrats' faulty legislation. The proposal contains many key elements of genuine health care reform that citizens have encouraged their representatives to offer. The republican plan includes increased incentives for people to use health savings accounts, and caps non-economic jury awards in medical malpractice cases at $250,000. It also offers multiple incentives to states in order to drive down premiums, and allows health insurance to be sold across state lines, a move which would increase competition and help lower insurance premiums.
Republicans' efforts, however, may be in vain yet again. Some democrats have already indicated they are closed to alternatives for their own bill. "[The republican proposal] does little to provide security and stability to all Americans, doesn't provide insurance availability for all Americans, does little to expand access to coverage," House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer stated. "Ours is vastly superior and we think the American public will think that."
Hoyer has ignored, however, the fact that Americans made it clear through means such as the August town hall meetings and the D.C. Tea Party Express march on Washington that democrats' ideas for health care reform are not the types of health care reform that they seek. Indeed, the democrats' plans for health care will not reform the system, but will create an entirely new one. It will also add another 1.2 trillion to the deficit and tax Americans who already struggle to pay their bills and feed their families. Despite what democrats have claimed, taxation is referred to a total of 214 times in their bill. How can a bill that increases taxes on employers and individual Americans possibly be budget-neutral, as liberals have claimed? Abortion, a controversial issue that many Americans want deleted from the bill, is also included in the democrats' health care bill; it is mentioned 25 times, and each insurance exchange must contain at least one health plan that provides abortion. Since the funding for this health care overhaul will come from the wallets of hard-working, struggling Americans, the claims that taxpayer funded abortion will not be included in the bill are also patently false.
The republican plan, however, clearly puts a permanent ban on taxpayer funded abortion. The only exceptions to this are rape, incest, and conditions which would pose a threat to the life of the mother, such as ectopic pregnancy.
Hoyer remains certain, however, that Congress would vote on the democrats' health care bill within the week. "I'm confident of prevailing and I'm confident of prevailing before Veterans Day," Hoyer said. Veterans Day falls on Wednesday, Nov. 11. "I am confident that we are going to pass this bill."
Americans must contact their representatives immediately and inform them of the republicans' own more palatable health care proposal. If they don't, the democrats' own bill may break America's economy beyond repair.
For more information, please visit:
GOP offers 230 page healthcare proposal
House GOP pens 230 page heath bill draft
Employer Health Benefits: 2009 Summary of Findings
Health Care - GOP Solutions for America
Ten Facts About President Obama's Health Care Proposals
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Comments
Considering how much TARP and the 'stimulus' package were shots in the dark, the Republicans' plan is much more sensible (no matter whether you agree with its procscriptions--which I do). These mammoth bills need to stop, especially when they affect such a large percentage of the economy.
If Democrats were even plausibly interested in *reform*--even from a liberal perspective--they would propose modest changes. Give the economy at least a couple years. Did those work? Did they help? If yes, tweak some more. If no, repeal and go back to the drawing board.
In fact, I wish the Republicans took this angle and had an even more bare bones bill--and promoted the fact that health care is a mess, but a massive blundering government intrusion *probably* isn't the best way to intervene.
Oh, wait, that's logical. Too much to ask politicians for. Especially the liberal establishment.
If health care is the problem, insurance is not the cause and government is not the answer.
Of those "50 million," that lack insurance there were 45,000 who died without health care. With health care, 98,000 died FROM health care because of malpractice.
The question is do we want to trust that largest corporation in the world, the U.S. Government.
Do not expect house calls anytime soon.
We have seen how well the government delivers on its promises and its bureaucracies pursue the money without giving us benefits on so many levels. Imagine another organ of the government that only ultimately must listen to the Secretary of the Treasury - another "service" of which is the IRS.
That blog of mine above has several .pdf connections (HR. 3962 and two summaries, a few videos, and page references for new taxes and other mandates). If y
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