Shimkus Opposed to Government-Run Health Care

Washington, DC - Congressman John Shimkus (R, Illinois-19) issued the following statement after the House Democratic leadership unveiled its nearly-2000 page health care legislation in Washington Thursday:

"I support health insurance reforms that would make health care more accessible, affordable, and portable.  I cannot support a plan that raises taxes, hurts businesses, and cuts Medicare seniors rely on...all to put the federal government in control of everyone's health care.

"Yes, we need health insurance reform.  I support allowing for 100 percent tax deductibility of health insurance by individuals, just as corporations are allowed.  I support allowing health insurance to be sold across state lines to let insurers offer people more choices at lower costs with competition driving prices down.  We must also remove barriers so those with pre-existing conditions can obtain coverage at an affordable rate and remove life-time caps on insurance policies.

"These reforms will ensure that the sickest and most vulnerable will get the coverage they deserve for as long as they need it.  I am proud to cosponsor legislation that would make many of these necessary changes, and I know we could pass a bipartisan health reform package around these principals.

"The Democratic leadership, however, want government to control yet another sector of the economy -- this time its health care.  We already own an automobile company and Wall Street banks. 

"And at a time with very high unemployment, the Democratic leadership proposes putting additional taxes on businesses -- in the form of penalties for not providing health insurance -- which many small businesses cannot afford.  Will this put them out of business?  And for those who currently enjoy insurance through their employer, they may find themselves losing that coverage as employers opt to put workers in a public plan, whether they want to change or not.

"This bill will also place additional mandates on states to expand Medicaid regardless of a state's need or ability to pay for these expansions over time.  This is particularly troubling for Illinois, which already struggles to meet its Medicaid obligations to our physicians and providers who care for the poor.

"Aside from tax increases and cost concerns, I do not support the public option in this bill.  This public option is a gateway to a government-run one payer system that will eventually ration care to contain costs and take health care decisions away from you and your doctors and put it into the hands of bureaucrats in Washington. 

"Make no mistake.  The public option will eventually get them to a single payer government run health system.  I cannot support their plan."

Republican health care priorities and legislative alternatives are available for review online at www.healthcare.gop.gov.

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