Wayne Allard: “I, for one, am pleased we are moving forward this next week with the health care agenda in an attempt to hold down the…”

“I, for one, am pleased we are moving forward this next week with the health care agenda in an attempt to hold down the costs of health care. My colleague who just spoke said: I don't think any Senators have ever experienced life without health insurance. Before I came to the Senate, I didn't have health insurance. So I come to the Senate today as a small businessman who has had to struggle with the costs of health insurance in my small business. I also had to struggle with my employees, making sure that they had appropriate health insurance to meet the immediate needs of their family. The fact that the majority leader has decided this next week to declare health care week to help put forth three pieces of legislation, Senate bills 22 and 23 which deal with liability reform is great. We cannot continue to bury our heads in the sand and ignore the fact that lawyers, some way or the other, do not contribute to the cost of health care. The fact is, the threat of lawsuits do add to the cost of health care. Finally, I am pleased one of the bills coming forward in the Senate is the bill allowing small businesses to form associations. Then, as a purchasing unit, they have more power in the marketplace and can negotiate cheaper health insurance policies as a general rule. It does not happen all the time. But at least it gives the small businessman one more tool in trying to hold down the costs of health care.…”