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What Is Being Reformed?

Floor Speech

Date: July 28, 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Senior Citizens Entitlements and the Safety Net Health and Health Care

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, when I hear the word "reform'' in the same sentence as health care, I wonder what is being reformed.

Fact 1: Some 80 percent of Americans are satisfied with their present health care.

Fact 2: Do we know what we're reforming? No. According to the Washington Post, the Democrats jumped at a chance to brief on what is in their 1,700-page Democrat health care bill. ``The bill is so complex,'' said Ways and Means Chairman Rangel, ``that when staff agreed to hold the session, response was overwhelming.''

Fact 3: The Democratic plan will not save money. The nonpartisan CBO projected $1 trillion in costs and mounting deficits, and they ``do not see the sort of fundamental changes that would be necessary to reduce the trajectory of Federal spending by a significant amount.''

Fact 4: The bill has harmful cuts to Medicare Advantage that will result in more than 10 million seniors losing the program on which they rely. This plan would have your money spent, your current health care gone, no guarantee of satisfaction, all in the name of "reform.''


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