John W. Olver: “health care costs are out of control. Americans will spend nearly $4000 this year on health care. Their employers spend…”

“health care costs are out of control. Americans will spend nearly $4000 this year on health care. Their employers spend 12 percent of payroll on health care. And more than 14 percent of our GDP--$1 trillion--is spent on health care. Mr. Speaker, these spiraling costs are bleeding our companies and breaking the financial back for our citizens and our companies. As health care reform moves through the various committees, we must mount a real attack on these staggering costs. The health care our people receive should be based on their need, not on their ability to pay. I hope, Mr. Speaker, that when health care reform reaches the floor later this year, we will have an opportunity to vote on the single payer system, which offers the toughest possible measures for controlling these spiralling health care costs.”