On the recordJanuary 19, 2011
Another couple of brief points I would like to bring up, because out of a sense of compassion, we want to continue to practice health care and we want patients to be able to afford it. But let me point out a couple of ways this bill is trying to fund the expanded government-run health care that actually increases cost. One is that the very thing that we should be working on to reduce costs such as medical supplies and other practices will be taxed. Pacemakers will be taxed. Heart monitors will be taxed. Artificial joints will be taxed. The knees and hips that people will have replaced will be taxed. Stents, diabetes supplies, and prescription drugs are going to be taxed. That tax is an increase in the cost of health care and something that has to be paid for, which gets paid for by increasing the cost of insurance. Employers also have to pay increasing taxes: if they don't have enough insurance or if they have no insurance for their employees. And if they have too much insurance for their employees, instead of rewarding them and saying this is good that you are providing comprehensive insurance for employees, that gets taxed as well.
