Burgess Owens: “the Dingell-Kennedy-Kassebaum substitute is a modest but significant step forward for health care. I rise in support of…”

“the Dingell-Kennedy-Kassebaum substitute is a modest but significant step forward for health care. I rise in support of the substitute. It is good that we are here addressing problems such as portability or increased deductibility for small businesses and preexisting condition discrimination. These small steps forward are important, but the American people should not be misled. The noble goal of universal health care, health care for all Americans, is not being discussed tonight. The administration bill in the 103d Congress was striving to help Americans join the other civilized, industrialized nations and provide health care for the 43 million Americans who are not covered with any health care plan. This bill moves us no closer to health care for everybody. Looming over all of us in our present health care system is the dangerous threat to the Medicaid entitlement. That is not being discussed, but the Medicaid entitlement is America's beachhead for universal health care. Even if we pass the highly desirable Kennedy-Kassebaum-Dingell substitute, we will be taking a giant step backward if we throw away the Medicaid entitlement within a few weeks. The American people must not be swindled. Two actions are needed.…”