Mike Johnson

Thank you all for testifying today, and I appreciate you for being here.

I think it is an important step to ensure greater transparency in Medicare spending, so we can ensure hospitals are not admitting patients solely for financial profit, but because it is medically necessary.

I do not believe that we should mandate the conduct of State and local law enforcement through Federal legislation.

I agree that we should work to reduce that number, absolutely.

We have a moral responsibility to help those with disabilities who can get back to work.

Wouldn't you agree that tolling is like a double tax?

I have recently introduced legislation by the name of Right of Way for American Drivers Act that would begin to do just that: Pay for it.

We are committed to finding ways to make the program work better and promote opportunity for individuals who want to return to work.

I want to give any American who is disabled, who says, 'I can still work, let me show you,' the opportunity to do so.

There are two problems for the American taxpayer when Social Security can't manage earnings reports: First, dollars go out that shouldn't; second, individuals who want to work are discouraged from doing so. It's time Congress takes a look…

I made a commitment to the disability community to make this program work better and to promote opportunity for those who want and can return to work.

The Federal unemployment program should be a drug-free zone.

If you are on illegal drugs, you are simply not job-ready.

The bottom line is that taxpayers shouldn't subsidize drug use.

Americans won't stand for criminals getting benefits, especially when Social Security will soon lack the money to pay full benefits.

Our bill would prevent felons fleeing a warrant as well as probation and parole violators from collecting Supplemental Security Income and Social Security.

That doesn't make sense. That is why I introduced commonsense legislation to help preserve Social Security disability benefits only for those who cannot work.

Waste, fraud, and abuse in the disability program is a problem, a problem for the American taxpayer and a problem for deserving beneficiaries.

I am not here today to criticize one Medicare provider over another, but, instead, to discuss the important role physician-owned hospitals play in promoting competition in Medicare.

Lastly, I would like to submit for the record a study that shows physician-owned hospitals save Medicare almost $10 million over 10 years.

I would also like to submit for the record a statement by the Federal Trade Commission saying that physician-owned hospitals increase competition and reduce prices.

I would also like to highlight that the August 2006 MedPAC report your testimony cites stated that, 'Profit margins for community hospitals in markets with physician-owned hospitals were higher than those in markets without physician-owned…

It is time for new flood maps. It is something we need to do.

I think that law enforcement in general is an important part of that.

Trade is very important to the State of Texas, and, in fact, our Governor, Greg Abbott, likes to say Texas is number one when it comes to exports.