House GOP Leaders React to Health Care Speech
House Minority Leader John Boehner and Whip Eric Cantor released the following statements today in response to President Obama's speech at the American Medical Association's annual conference in Chicago. Obama said today "the road to prosperity remains long and difficult" and that "one essential step on our journey is to control the spiraling cost of health care in America."
Boehner:
"House Republicans want to work with President Obama on a plan to make health care more affordable and accessible for all Americans. We're pleased the President has expressed rhetorical support for medical liability reform, but fact is the effect of even the strongest medical liability reforms would be negated by a government takeover of health care that raises taxes, rations care, and drives health care costs even higher."Real medical liability reform must establish tough standards to reform the medical liability system, encourage the speedy resolution of claims, and deter junk lawsuits. If President Obama is serious about reducing the skyrocketing cost of health care, he'll press his own party to include real medical liability reform as part of a reform package that puts patients and doctors in charge of their health care rather than putting government in charge. House Republicans are offering such a plan, and we hope to work with the President and our Democratic colleagues to enact it."
Cantor:
"The debate surrounding health reform in America has begun in earnest. House Republicans stand ready to work with the Administration and the Democrat Majorities in Congress to craft a common-sense solution that preserves flexibility and choice, increases access, and lowers the cost of care for working families and small businesses."To be clear, Republicans are not satisfied with the status quo, and we will move forward with a vision to address the health care needs for both patients and doctors. Specifically, we believe there is a better way and our reform principles will outline an approach that increases coverage and maintains the doctor-patient relationship, while improving quality without breaking the bank.
"Unfortunately, in what has become a Washington tradition, hope of bipartisanship has quickly evaporated in the summer sun. Democrats are touting a government-run health care option that creates an unlevel playing field leading to the destruction of the private market, reducing choice and putting Washington bureaucrats in charge of family health care decisions. In addition, their approach will cost over a trillion dollars - money this country simply does not have.
"There is a growing chorus of concern about the Democrat's trillion dollar government health proposal. More campaign-style events and speeches do not give the American people the answers they need. Can Americans keep what they have if they want to? How will this Administration pay for it? Is it productive for government to restrict our doctors' ability to treat patients as they see fit? Serious questions remain unanswered, and it's time for the Administration to end the happy talk and get down to the difficult decisions ahead."