Late Saturday night, I joined with 214 of my colleagues in Congress to oppose Nancy Pelosi’s government health care takeover.
The Pelosi legislation is simply something I cannot support. Since the debate began, I have remained firmly opposed to any kind of government run “public option,” and the Oklahomans I’ve met with over the last couple of months agree overwhelmingly. What do you think?
This monstrosity of a bill demonstrates the Democratic leadership has lost all touch with fiscal reality. When you include the omitted $210 billion “Doc Fix” and $34 billion cost in unfunded mandates to state governments, the price tag for government run health care soars to over $1.3 trillion.
How in the world could we possibly pay for this? The Democrat bill passed on Saturday will raise taxes by $766.6 billion, with small businesses and middle class families left to foot the bill. It will take more than $500 billion out of Medicare, raising premiums and cutting the benefits of our seniors.
This bill is simply wrong for our country and is indefensible at a time when national unemployment has reached 10.2%. Most common sense folks agree: Nancy Pelosi and President Obama need to rethink what our priorities ought to be.
But the fight is just beginning.
Since the August recess, the American people have become fiercely engaged in the debate. They are calling their Representatives, holding them accountable at town hall meetings, and making their voices heard at tea parties in states both red and blue. Grassroots activists have changed the nature of this debate, and because of your opposition, Nancy Pelosi could barely corral the bare minimum 218 votes needed to ram the bill through Congress.
Now, it moves to the United States Senate. Will you help keep the pressure on?
I won’t stop fighting against a government health care takeover, and I remain optimistic that with your help we can defeat this bill.
How will a government health care takeover impact you and your family? What are your thoughts, concerns, and suggestions? As always, I want to hear from you. Please join the debate on our health care forum.
Sincerely,
P.S. Please join the debate in our online forum!
