On the recordFebruary 16, 2011
I'm a big fan of Mr. Whitfield, but he misses the big thing here; and that is that we're in the portion of this budget where the legislative branch is funded. Isn't this the opportunity to end the funding for the health care plans that so many Members of Congress get? So many Members of Congress get health care plans, like the 9 million Federal employees and their workers where they get a booklet twice a year with different choices. And since there's so many workers, they are aggregated together to be able to hold down costs for all of them. This is exactly what the new health care plan that is going into effect for the American people seeks to do. Now, the Democrats have said let's extend that to all Americans. Let's give everyone that opportunity. And my Republican friends say, no, that's government-controlled health care. This is your chance. Don't blow it. Mr. Whitfield is an important, prominent member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, one of the most learned members of that committee. This is our chance to say, you know what, we're so against government-run health care that we want to get rid of the Federal Employees Health Benefit Plan. This is your moment. This is the time. Let's do it. Come on.
