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“During the August district work period, I attended numerous meetings across the Fifth District and met with hundreds of constituents who made it clear that they are unhappy with the way Congress is conducting the current health care debate.  Democrat Congressional leadership continues to rush health care legislation through both chambers, with no real explanation.  Constituents in Ohio’s Fifth District, in addition to millions of other Americans, have asked Congress to slow this process down and thoroughly examine probably one of the most important pieces of legislation Congress has debated since the New Deal.  No one will argue that our nation does not need health care reform, but it is clear that Congress must start over with real bipartisan negotiations where Republicans can be included and have input into the final legislation. 

Many concerns still linger about the legislation itself.  With a final price tag of over $1 trillion financed with tax hikes and fees, no guarantee that people will be able to keep their current coverage if they are satisfied, and an unprecedented expansion of the Federal government, the bill before the House will do more harm than good to our current health care system. 

House Republicans remain committed to making quality health care coverage affordable and accessible for every American, regardless of preexisting health conditions, and allowing those who like their current health care coverage to keep it.  House Republicans support health care reform that puts patients and their health first, protects the important doctor-patient relationship, and institutes tort or legal reform.  Small businesses also need the ability to pool their resources across state lines to provide coverage for their employees.

As the health care debate moves forward, I sincerely hope that President Obama’s call for bipartisan negotiations is taken seriously by Democrat Congressional leadership.”