Tonight, the president will give his State of the Union address. As Congress enters the chamber to hear what he has to say, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has her own resolution for 2010: ram through their government takeover of health care, despite the fact that only 37 percent of Missourians support the Democratic bill.
Despite the recent changes in the makeup of the Senate, House Democratic leaders are still not getting the message. They remain committed to trying to push through their reforms. The House and Senate versions of the bill (H.R. 3962 and H.R. 3590 respectively) still have differences that need to be resolved, but Washington Democrats are bent on fulfilling their New Year’s resolution behind closed doors and with no accountability. Meanwhile, our side continues to offer a clear and simple approach that improves access to health care, does not contain new, costly taxes and protects Americans’ jobs.
During his campaign, President Obama promised that health care negotiations would be transparent, broadcast on C-SPAN for all to see. However, as the details of each unpopular bill became better understood, national Democrats abandoned their promise, and are even circumventing the congressional procedures in order to avoid public scrutiny. That’s why I am trying to force the House to vote to open all health care negotiations to the public and the media. If the national Democrats are going to take over our health care system, they should have an audience.
The closed-door negotiations are far from over. First, the bills differ in how they would alter the current insurance market. Harry Reid’s bill would force states to set up insurance exchanges that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates would increase the cost of individual insurance by up to $2,100 per year. Meanwhile, Pelosi’s bill would set up a single government-run exchange that would remove flexibility for states and end the current individual insurance market. The Pelosi bill would also include a government-run insurance plan that could cause up to 114 million Americans to lose their health insurance, according to the nonpartisan Lewin Group. The array of regulation, mandates and price controls in these proposals offer only a taste of the confusion and bureaucracy of government-run health care.
Speaker Pelosi’s bill, which passed the House in November, includes over $700 billion in job-killing tax increases. These taxes hit small businesses, which employ over half of U.S. workers. This bill would also tax every individual who does not purchase a government-approved plan. The Reid bill would increase Medicare and Medicare payroll taxes and Medicaid rolls. Whatever the national Democrats decide, Americans know that higher taxes mean less money in their pockets and an estimated 5 million fewer jobs. Rather than raise taxes, I support plans that will lower health care costs for families and small businesses.
Because they’re negotiating behind closed doors, Democrats have freedom to throw sweeteners into the already-bloated health care bill. Harry Reid bought votes for his bad bill through backroom deals benefiting just a few, like the $300 million “Louisiana Purchase” and a $100 million “Cornhusker Kickback.” House Democrats even included a sweetheart deal for the unions, exempting them from the tax on “Cadillac” health plans.
The common-sense plan I support is not a takeover of health care, but will help individuals purchase health care across state lines, encourage small businesses to pool their insurance plans and reduce medical lawsuit abuse. The plan I support will reduce deficits by $68 billion over 10 years and lower insurance premiums for all groups.
This year, Americans are making clear, cost-conscious, achievable resolutions and are asking Congress to do the same — not make a $1 trillion-plus backroom deal that raises taxes, kills jobs and saddles future generations with debt.
U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., is a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate.
Opinion
Rep. Roy Blunt, guest columnist: Health bill demands transparency
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