G. K. Butterfield: “Mr. Speaker, as we debate the Republican proposal to repeal health care reform, I hope--I truly hope--that the American…”

“Mr. Speaker, as we debate the Republican proposal to repeal health care reform, I hope--I truly hope--that the American people will open their eyes and realize that this legislation will put insurance companies back in charge of their health care. I don't know about my friends on the other side. I don't know what kind of districts you represent, but I represent a low-wealth rural district in eastern North Carolina. My constituents need affordable health insurance. They need access to health care now. In my district, this repeal would allow insurance companies to deny coverage to 261,000 individuals with preexisting conditions. It would eliminate health care tax credits for up to 11,600 small businesses and 193,000 families. The number of people without health insurance in my district would grow by 56,000 people. It would increase the costs to hospitals for uncompensated care by more than $65 million, and it would increase prescription drug costs for 7,300 seniors who hit the Medicare drug doughnut hole. So I take great offense to any effort to repeal health care reform. This repeal would only lead to bigger Federal deficits and higher taxes for small businesses. Children, students, seniors, and small businesses owners would be devastated by losing these protections. Mr. Speaker, I urge my Republican colleagues to stop playing politics with health care.”