Why I Did Not Vote For the Health Care Bill

Wane.com from Fort Wayne shares a statement from Dan Burton on the recently passed Health Care Bill.

"I voted against Speaker Pelosi's bill because it is a disaster for health care in America. It costs too much, taxes too much, cuts Medicare and Medicare Advantage, and will ultimately cause health care to be rationed.

"Furthermore, what the Democrats have done today could cost millions of jobs at a time when their failed spending policies have already pushed America's unemployment rate to 10.2%. Looking ahead, I encourage Hoosiers, and all Americans, opposed to a government takeover of health care to contact their Senators and Representatives and voice their concerns. The fight for a better way to improve America's health care is not over yet."

Comments

[Evan Bergman]

Congressman Burton,

I agree with much of what your commercial said regarding the Health Care Bill. It's obviously a big issue for many Americans so why aren't the Republicans coming up with a reform bill of their own? Why can't the Republicans push for a Government Health Insurance Reform bill? What are you going to do to help the citizens of Indiana deal with the skyrocketing costs of health care in our state? We have very few choices in health care providers in this state, its not a free competitive market. In Indiana we are stuck with a regulated oligopoly. Furthermore our state is littered with loop holes that allow insurance companies from skipping out of their responsibilities and leaving our tax payers with the bill.

What are you doing to make things better here in Indiana besides saying "no" to democrats?

Indiana went form a Red state to a Purple state in 2008. What are you doing to bring it back to Red?

I'd like to see some action out of the Republican party, besides criticism. You guys are starting to look like the democrats did during Bush's second term.

[Team Burton]

Evan: Thank you for your question. Here is some information about the health care reform bill that Rep. Burton is supporting.

What Congressman Burton Supports:

HR 3400, The Empowering Patients First Act, which is the leading Republican proposal. Essentially, health care reforms that cut costs, increase portability and choice, but keep the government from interfering in your lives.

Allowing Americans to purchase insurance across state lines.

Allowing small businesses to band together to buy better insurance plans, just like large employers.

Allowing professional, civic, or alumni groups to purchase insurance plans for their membership – otherwise known as Individual Medical Associations.

Enacting tort reform to reduce the legal burdens on our doctors and reduce unnecessary medical costs.

Creating a safety net for the 10-15 million Americans who truly can not afford health insurance. This involves a system of tax rebates and credits to pay premiums and medical bills.

Ensuring that those with pre-existing conditions have access to health insurance.

[Robert Shattuck]

Plaintiffs' lawyers impede economic recovery
Dear Rep. Burton,

I am an Alabama resident.

I think plaintiffs' lawyers impede the country's economic recovery. I also think they undermine business ethics. They particularly stand in the way of sensible medical malpractice reform as a way to lower the nation's health care costs.

I have a blog How To Combat Plaintiffs' Lawyers where I record my efforts to communicate with lawmakers, judges, attorney generals and academics, among others, about how I believe plaintiffs' lawyers ill serve societal interests.

I receive no remuneration for any of my activities. I am not a member of any tort reform organization, chamber of commerce, or any other organization that has an interest in opposing plaintiffs' lawyers.

Congress is debating more stimulus, health care reform, and other governmental action to get our nation's economy back on track, and the country is moving toward the 2010 elections that will be a referendum on how the current Congress performs about these important domestic issues.

I hope you, as a United States Senator or Representative, or as a candidate for the Senate or the House of Representatives, will look at the contribution the plaintiffs' lawyers make to the country's economic difficulties and will consider, advocate and propose legislative action to lessen the problem of the plaintiffs' lawyers.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Robert Shattuck