William C. Baker: “as we consider the President's health care reform plan, we must not forget small business and what harm this plan will…”

“as we consider the President's health care reform plan, we must not forget small business and what harm this plan will do to them. The President's plan calls for a mandatory 7.9-percent payroll tax. This additional tax on hiring will cripple small business, and there is no guarantee that this tax will not increase in time, furthering the damage done to the backbone of the American business community. The Congressional Budget Office made several conclusions about the Clinton plan. First, it is a huge, untried expansion of government into the daily lives of all Americans. No. 2, it will create a greater deficit crisis than we already have today, over $70 billion for starters. And No. 3, every American family will be forced to pay for this plan with large payroll tax increases. But the analysis of the Congressional Budget Office is only part of the story. CBO did not talk about the implied rationing of the Clinton plan or the diminished quality or about the limited choice, the ability to choose one's doctor. Mr. Speaker, the Clinton plan is history. Let us now have a practical discussion on insurance portability and earlier primary care for the uninsured. This does not require turning medicine over to big government. That idea has been tried and failed. The Evil Empire is dead.”