U.S. Congressman Kenny Marchant

Washington, Oct 30, 2009 - Congressman Kenny Marchant (TX-24) yesterday issued the following release following the unveiling of Speaker Pelosi’s 1,990 page health bill.

“I reject the idea that big government is–or ever has been–a solution to reforming our health care system. The bill unveiled today is just another step in a coordinated effort by the Speaker Pelosi and her allies to facilitate a complete government takeover of our nation’s healthy care system. We do not need socialized medicine in the United States of America. The massive, job-killing tax increases in this bill will stifle job creation and halt our economic recovery. The individual mandates in this bill are indicative of a calculated assault on individual liberties that, not too long ago, most Americans took for granted.

“Speaker Pelosi’s bill will cut Medicare Advantage beginning in 2010 for tens of thousands of Texas seniors. Our parents and grandparents have done nothing to deserve this treatment.  

“Small businesses are struggling to keep their employees on the payroll and weather the current economic climate. The punitive fines, fees, and penalties in this bill threaten the very existence of small businesses around the country and livelihoods of the millions of people they employ.

“American families and small businesses need tax cuts; this bill raises them. The American people want more choice, improved access, and further innovation; this bill limits choice, access, and innovation. Seniors deserve peace of mind; this bill loots billions from Medicare. States are struggling to balance their budgets; the expansion of Medicaid in this bill puts states on the hook for billions more in unfunded liabilities. This feckless attempt to reform health care is the epitome of fiscal recklessness.

“This bill supposedly costs $894 billion. This is on top of an $11.9 trillion debt. History shows government programs always cost more than predicted. For example, when Medicare was created in 1965, it was projected to cost $12 billion by 1990. Instead, the actual cost was $111 billion. This bill will bankrupt our country and destroy our health care system. We can and must reject this bill and start over.”