Rep. Boustany Delivers Republican Health Care Address

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.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• health
• care
• Boustany
• President
• Obama
• Republican
• Leader
• Boehner

[jojo808]

All good ideas here.

But they Had 8 years to get them done and did Nothing .

This is only a smokescreen to keep beating around the Bush. I Need Health Care Now. thanks

[junkyassmonkey]

Reagan was great!

Aside from the stock market economy crash

Failing to combat AIDS

Increasing Poverty

Failing to improve quality of life (for non-ultra rich)

Opposing Civil Rights

The only time in over 200 years of American history that taxes were raised for the poor and lowered for the rich.

In the US today, the "Gini coefficient"—a measure of the distance separating rich and poor—is comparable to that of China.

[MabCannell59]

Download the audio from this tune at soundnabber doht cohm.

[guywalker29]

This fat pig gets great government organized health care paid for by me, why is he against me getting what he has?

[junkyassmonkey]

Reagan was great!

Aside from the stock market economy crash

Failing to combat AIDS

Increasing Poverty

Failing to improve quality of life (for non-ultra rich)

Opposing Civil Rights

The only time in over 200 years of American history that taxes were raised for the poor and lowered for the rich.

In the US today, the "Gini coefficient"—a measure of the distance separating rich and poor—is comparable to that of China.

[junkyassmonkey]

Reagan gave a States' Rights speech in Philadelphia, Mississippi, the town where three civil rights workers were murdered in 1964.

Reagan supported South Africa in spite of apartheid, but yielded to pressure from Congress.

At first Reagan opposed the Martin Luther King holiday, and signed it only after an overwhelming veto-proof majority voted in favor of it.

Congress overrode Reagan's veto of the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1988.

How's that UNCLE TOM syndrome working out for you?

[AtlasShruggery]

The Republican Health Care Plan:

1. Don't get sick.

2. If you get sick, DIE QUICKLY!

[hadenufnow]

Kill the 3000 pg Illegal HC TAX & JAIL Trojan Horse Mandate Bill nobody wants..

Kill the bill..

Vote em out...

Nobody wants it..

[LordCharlesBoustany]

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.

[elitebanktyranny]

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.