Porter Goss: “Monday night a week ago the President pounded on his bully pulpit in Boston and decreed that the Republicans have no…”

“Monday night a week ago the President pounded on his bully pulpit in Boston and decreed that the Republicans have no viable health reform alternative. He was frustrated. He was wrong. Two nights later his own party proved that by attacking the GOP health plan during the first House Oxford debate. I don't blame Democrats for not wanting to defend Clinton's plan. I sat through countless Republican meetings on the subject--and met regularly representatives from the White House last spring to present Republican ideas and concerns about health. Republicans have introduced several comprehensive health bills. Each is distinguishable from the President's plan in two respects: First, Republican plans rely much less on new taxes and new Government bureaucracies--depending much more on directly empowering individuals to make their own choices in a reformed and revitalized market. Second, Republicans seek to pay for reforms. Rather than throw new taxes and more debt at a system notorious for waste and inefficiency, Republican reform bills redirect wasteful spending to worthy purposes--and reward innovation and cost-effectiveness.”