Bruce F. Vento: “I rise today to oppose the bill and support the Democratic substitute on this important issue of health insurance…”

“I rise today to oppose the bill and support the Democratic substitute on this important issue of health insurance reform. It is clear that there are serious problems with our current health care system. In 1994, Congress was working to address these problems and implement broad health care reforms, expanding access to health care coverage and reining in escalating health care costs. Those efforts were stymied, and during the past year and a half Republicans have mostly concentrated on cutting back on health care, by attempting to slash Medicare and Medicaid. In fact half the specified savings in the GOP reconciliation plan were from health care, that is, Medicare and Medicaid cuts. In the absence of broader health care reforms, Americans are relying on us to at least enact some limited but important insurance reforms. There is some bipartisan support for many of the provisions before us today, but unfortunately, the Republican leadership is polarizing and threatening the enactment of these modest reforms. The GOP House leadership is seriously jeopardizing the bill by loading it up like a Christmas tree with controversial ornaments, like medical savings accounts and medical malpractice reform. These ornaments are a distraction from the issues and while they may be pretty to look at, we should certainly examine and consider these provisos separately, not as part of the basic agreed upon reforms.”