On the recordJanuary 19, 2011
I respectfully ask that my colleagues listen to the American people and vote for H.R. 2, legislation to repeal Obamacare and, in essence, open the door to the passage of replacement legislation that offers needed, meaningful and bipartisan health care reform. Considered in its entirety, Obamacare is a crippling blow to both health care in America and our economy. Not only will Obamacare over time erode and undermine the quality of health care in America, it will to a progressively greater extent increase the deficit, drag down the economy, hurt businesses, and destroy jobs. The near total lack of transparency and misuse of power last year by the then-majority in forcing through Obamacare's passage, makes it the quintessential example of how a bad bill can become law. The American people are rightfully angry, and we in Congress had better listen to them. Obamacare, which would create nearly 160 boards, commissions and programs and would vest sweeping powers on bureaucrats to determine what benefits are covered and not and at what cost, is so fundamentally flawed that it needs to be repealed and replaced. The American people want and I support meaningful and sensible health care reform, but it shouldn't be paid for by giving the government control of our health care system, with new unconstitutional mandates, massive tax hikes, and $2.6 trillion in new government spending.
