Sam Johnson: Government-forced insurance is not the answer
October
29, 2009
After
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) unveiled sweeping health reform
legislation written behind closed doors, U.S. Congressman Sam
Johnson (3rd Dist.-Texas) declared that government-forced insurance
is not the answer and urged Congress to reconsider a targeted,
more bipartisan approach.
“Today
the Democrats proposed the biggest Washington takeover to date.
Americans don’t want insurance bureaucracy and we certainly
don’t need government bureaucracy. With this plan, the American
people will end up with both,” declared Johnson, who serves
on the Health Subcommittee on Ways and Means. “Americans
deserve a better approach to healthcare – one that is patient-centered,
rather than insurance company-centered or Washington-centered.
Government-forced insurance is not the answer.”
The
newly introduced Affordable Health Care for America Act, H.R.
3962, costs nearly $1 trillion and represents three months of
intense secret negotiations among House Democrats. The 2,000 page
bill hurts seniors with sweeping cuts to Medicare, forces Americans
to buy health insurance, taxes all Americans who do not purchase
“government approved” health coverage, limits personal
choices and individual decisions, and jeopardizes the health insurance
Americans already have – and often times like.
“Democrats
and Republicans ought to be talking about how we can find solutions
to provide more access to more treatments and more doctors with
less interference from insurance companies and Washington politicians
and special interests,” continued Johnson.
Johnson
takes issue with the nearly $1 trillion price tag that will greatly
impact future generations. “The costly mistakes we make
today will force our children and grandchildren to work twice
as hard for half the opportunity. That’s not right.”
Johnson
believes that healthcare in America needs reform and feels that
Congress can and must do better with a targeted, bipartisan approach.
There are several important areas where Republicans and Democrats
agree and could move forward. First, people should have access
to coverage regardless of pre-existing conditions. Second, individuals,
small businesses and other groups should be able to join together
to access insurance at lower prices, the same way large businesses
and labor unions do. For years, Johnson has championed legislation
to do just that. (The Small Business Health Fairness Act, H.R.
2607) Third, America can and should provide assistance to those
who still cannot access a doctor when they need one. Fourth, insurers
should be able to offer incentives for wellness care and prevention.
Fifth, any healthcare reform proposal should include medical malpractice
liability reform so healthcare providers can stop practicing defensive
medicine and instead focus on patient-centered medicine; this
would save taxpayers an estimated $54 billion.
Johnson also advocates several common-sense solutions,
such as giving the American public and Members of Congress 72
hours to read legislation before it comes up for a vote. In addition,
Johnson thinks that Members of Congress should practice what they
preach and enroll in the government-controlled plan if they vote
for it.
To
view the healthcare reform legislation advocated by House Republicans,
go to http://www.gop.gov/solutions/healthcare. Johnson represents
portions of Dallas and Collin Counties.
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