Obama, Senate Democrats Rejected GOP's Common-sense Health Reforms in Favor of Disastrous, $2.5 Trillion Government-run Plan
Obama, Senate Democrats Rejected GOP's Common-sense Health Reforms in Favor of Disastrous, $2.5 Trillion Government-run Plan
By Johnny Isakson, Georgia Republican Party Grassroots Newsletter — Jan 13, 2010
During the debate over health care reform in Congress, Democrats have repeatedly labeled Republicans as the “party of no.” They claim we refuse to offer alternatives to fix our nation’s health care system while blocking their efforts to reform the system. They argue we only want to stop the process.
Yes, Republicans have fought hard to block the Democrats’ efforts to raise your taxes, increase your health care premiums, cut benefits for America’s seniors and place a massive unfunded mandate on Georgia and other states to pay for a proposed expansion of Medicaid. However, it’s ridiculous to say we have not offered alternatives or made any attempts to reform the system.
In 2006, Congress had the opportunity to significantly improve our nation’s health care system by passing legislation to help small businesses provide affordable health insurance to employees. I know firsthand how difficult it is for small businesses to provide health insurance to their employees because I faced the same challenge when I ran a small business, Northside Realty in Atlanta, for more than 20 years. The Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act of 2006, S.1955, would have allowed business and trade associations to pool their members together and offer competitive group health coverage on a national or regional basis.
Can you guess what happened? Many of those same Democrats, including President Obama, who today argue that Republicans are doing nothing more than obstructing the health care debate filibustered S.1955 in 2006 and voted against ending debate, effectively killing this legislation that would have reduced health care costs for millions of Americans.
The debate over health care reform comes down to a difference in philosophies. The Democrats in Congress want to pass a bill that will pave the way for government-run health care. Republicans believe the best way to reform the health care system is through increased choice and competition in the private sector.
I believe there could be some common ground between Republicans and Democrats in terms of insurance portability and not being rejected for pre-existing conditions or cancelled if you have a disease. However, Democrats refused to listen to our ideas and instead chose to ram through a bill drafted behind closed doors and stuffed with special deals to secure the votes of certain senators. It was absolutely the wrong way to go about this debate.
I recognize the frustrations many Americans have with the current cost and delivery of health care. However, the unintended consequences of the Democrats’ legislation are disastrous. This bill will only drive up the cost of health care and put a government bureaucrat between a patient and his doctor. This process is not over by a long shot, and I will continue to fight against it every single day.
