Michael Collins: “I rise today to discuss the issue of health care reform, but, more importantly, I want to discuss word that I have…”

“I rise today to discuss the issue of health care reform, but, more importantly, I want to discuss word that I have received from the Third District of Georgia, and particularly from a constituent by the name of Dr. Rodney Kreider. Dr. Kreider is an associate pediatrician in one of the largest pediatric practices in Atlanta, GA. He makes several comments and points about health care reform, and these are some of the same points and comments I have heard throughout the Third District of Georgia, throughout Georgia itself, and from many other places across this country. The first point that Dr. Kreider makes is that Government spending in the form of entitlements has failed to adequately address the needs of our Nation's poor. For the past several years, our Federal and State governments have spent record amounts of tax dollars on social entitlement benefits. But we have not seen a real return on those so-called investments. The poverty rate has not declined, and infant mortality is still high. The social programs begun in the 1960's have been a tremendous failure because they have caused circular and increased dependence on the Federal Government.”