Below is the full text (as prepared) of tonights Republican address on health care, delivered by Dr. Charles Boustany (R-LA) following President Obamas speech to a Joint Session of Congress: Go...
Below is the full text (as prepared) of tonights Republican address on health care, delivered by Dr. Charles Boustany (R-LA) following President Obamas speech to a Joint Session of Congress: Good evening. Im Dr. Charles Boustany, and Im proud to serve the people of Louisianas Seventh Congressional District. Im also a heart surgeon with more than 20 years of experience, during which I saw first-hand the need for lowering health care costs. Republicans are pleased that President Obama came to the Capitol tonight. We agree much needs to be done to lower the cost of health care for all Americans. On that goal, Republicans are ready and weve been ready to work with the President for common-sense reforms that our nation can afford. Afford is an important word. Our country is facing many challenges. The cost of health care is rising. Federal spending is soaring. Were piling huge debt on our children. And families and small businesses are struggling through a jobless recovery, with more than 2.4 million private-sector jobs lost since February. Its clear the American people want health care reform, but they want their elected leaders to get it right. Most Americans wanted to hear the President tell Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Reid and the rest of Congress that its time to start over on a common-sense, bipartisan plan focused on lowering the cost of health care while improving quality. Thats what I heard over the past several months in talking to thousands of my constituents. Replacing your familys current health care with government-run health care is not the answer. In fact, itll make health care much more expensive. Thats not just my personal diagnosis as a doctor or a Republican; its the conclusion of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office the neutral scorekeeper that determines the cost of major bills. I read the bill Democrats passed through committee in July. It creates 53 new government bureaucracies, adds hundreds of billions to our national debt, and raises taxes on job-creators by $600 billion. And, it cuts Medicare by $500 billion, while doing virtually nothing to make the program better for our seniors. The President had a chance tonight to take government-run health care off the table. Unfortunately, he didnt do it. We can do better, with a targeted approach that tackles the biggest problems. Here are four important areas where we can agree, right now: One, all individuals should have access to coverage, regardless of preexisting conditions. Two, individuals, small businesses and other groups should be able to join together to get health insurance at lower prices, the same way large businesses and labor unions do. Three, we can provide assistance to those who still cannot access a doctor. And, four, insurers should be able to offer incentives for wellness care and prevention something particularly important to me. I operated on too many people who could have avoided surgery if theyd simply made healthier choices earlier in life. We do have ideas the President hasnt agreed with. Were grateful the President mentioned medical liability reform, and we hope hes serious. We need to establish tough liability reform standards, encourage speedy resolution of claims, and deter junk lawsuits that drive up the cost of care. Real reform must do this. Lets also talk about letting families and businesses buy insurance across state lines. I and many other Republicans believe that that will provide real choice and competition to lower the cost of health insurance. Unfortunately, the President disagrees. You can read more about all these reforms at healthcare.gop.gov. These are common-sense reforms we can achieve right away without destroying jobs, exploding the deficit, rationing care, or taking away the freedom American families cherish. This Congress can pass meaningful reform soon to reduce some of the fear and anxiety families are feeling in these very difficult times. Working together in a bipartisan way, we can truly lower the cost of health care while improving quality for the American people. Im Dr. Charles Boustany. Thanks for listening.
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Nice try bringing up slavery try and demonize Jefferson...
Of course we have money for WARS that's all the government cares about. Democrat and Republican... and they've got the Federal Reserve to endlessly fund the welfare-warfare state.
We give TOO MUCH money to education. The lowest funded public schools score exactly the same as the most funded public schools. The government has this obsession with regulating every aspect of it too. They have no business in education OR health care.
Actually, I can demonize Jefferson simply on academic terms as well. Jefferson was just another elitist who thought the country should be run, to use his words, by a "natural elite."
Look, save this anarcho-Capitalist rant for somebody who actually sympathizes with you. Just because you're a "libertarian" or conservative doesn't make you an expert on the Constitution.
I'm much more constructive in my critique. I say take what we have & change it. I wouldn't destroy the education system.
what a disingenuous scumbag. All these republicans are just fucking disgusting. STOP ABORTION!!!! STOP HEALTH CARE FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED IT, LET THEM DIE!!!!! SAVE BABIES UNTIL THEY GROW UP THEN LET THEM DIE!!! Thats the republican way.
Obama inherited the security council from Bush his period. My friend, your implication is wrong head security=>bad international relations. South America wants him, Europe likes him, The Middle East and Africa is with him.
Obama doesnt support the Patriot Act, I AGREE HE WILL SAY SO, its something what is derived, Indian and black people were killed for Patriots. The only thing whats nowadays good about the patriots are the founding fathers.
I AGREE the senators and goverment use(d) to misuse the ideology for there own wallets.
I DONT AGREE with certain points. The republicans (especially Bush) supported the free market. I dont probalby just like you, but I have to be honoust, the capital of the richest companies are corrected by the free marked, so they suffer from there own behaviour.
I think a big goverment should be helpfull to, and only if it focuses on social programs like social security, education and medical care
Guantanamo is indeed not closed, I didnt say that. But Bush placed the prisinors in a place which is not under American law, so they dont have any rights, and no country wants them either. Theoretically Bush created a problem Obama cant solve.
Obama didnt started a war. He is trying to prevent one against Iran. The war in Afghanistan, surrounded by Pakistan started by Bush just like Iraq (almost Iran, Russia). Unresponsible to get your militaries back, America created the mess! Neither attack
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1. Don't get sick.
2. If you get sick, DIE QUICKLY!
Kill the bill..
Vote em out...
Nobody wants it..
Madison thought the government ought to protect the "opulent minority," also known as the rich, from the rest of the population!
Jefferson was a slave-owning hypocrite!
Progressivism IS FREEDOM!
Better we spend our money on the American people rather than throwing away all our money in the military sector.
We have money for WARS but we don't have money for health care!!!
We have money for PRISONS but we don't have money for EDUCATION!
Of course we have money for WARS that's all the government cares about. Democrat and Republican... and they've got the Federal Reserve to endlessly fund the welfare-warfare state.
We give TOO MUCH money to education. The lowest funded public schools score exactly the same as the most funded public schools. The government has this obsession with regulating every aspect of it too. They have no business in education OR health care.
Look, save this anarcho-Capitalist rant for somebody who actually sympathizes with you. Just because you're a "libertarian" or conservative doesn't make you an expert on the Constitution.
I'm much more constructive in my critique. I say take what we have & change it. I wouldn't destroy the education system.
I don't care how much it costs!
Single Payer NOW!
GET RID OF THE OBAMA PLAN AND START with passing H.R. 676!
John Boehner is an asshole.
Lord Charles Boustany is a jackass! Every time someone dies from not having health care in America, Boustany has just violated his hippocratic oath!
My friend, your implication is wrong
head security=>bad international relations.
South America wants him, Europe likes him, The Middle East and Africa is with him.
Obama doesnt support the Patriot Act, I AGREE HE WILL SAY SO, its something what is derived, Indian and black people were killed for Patriots. The only thing whats nowadays good about the patriots are the founding fathers.
I DONT AGREE with certain points.
The republicans (especially Bush) supported the free market. I dont probalby just like you, but I have to be honoust, the capital of the richest companies are corrected by the free marked, so they suffer from there own behaviour.
I think a big goverment should be helpfull to, and only if it focuses on social programs like social security, education and medical care
Obama didnt started a war. He is trying to prevent one against Iran. The war in Afghanistan, surrounded by Pakistan started by Bush just like Iraq (almost Iran, Russia). Unresponsible to get your militaries back, America created the mess! Neither attack