On the recordMarch 21, 2010
Yesterday I read an article by Speaker Pelosi in which she said the health care bill they proposed would strengthen Medicare, reduce deficits, and bring the predatory practices of health insurance companies under control. How can you strengthen Medicare when you take $500 billion out of it, out of nursing homes, out of hospitals, and out of Medicare advantage? How do you claim you reduce the deficit by $138 billion when you include the taxes for 10 years and the expenditures for only 6 years? And how do you say you are going to control the insurance companies, and act like you are throwing them in the briar patch, when in fact they support this bill? They went to the White House and helped write this bill. Why? Because this bill requires small businesses and individuals to buy health insurance, and, if not, they will be subject to civil penalties. Health reform may be necessary, but this bill is the wrong bill.
