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Good afternoon.  Mr. Speaker I rise today to express my concern with the recently released analysis done by CMS of the health care bill that confirms that our nation’s health care costs will increase rather than decrease as the President has pledged to the Nation. 

The CMS analysis concluded that national health care expenditures will actually increase by $311 Billion.  At a time when our unemployment rate is continuing to increase, how are American families’ supposed to pay for these increased costs?  The latest figures  show that the Ohio unemployment rate is 11.5% statewide, and the unemployment rate is over 14% in many parts of my District.  My constituents are continuing to ask, where are the jobs?  In addition, the small businesses in my District are asking how they are supposed to pay for the new mandates being placed on them by this health care bill? 

Our national debt is skyrocketing and this country cannot take the crushing debt that is being placed on our children and grandchildren.  The CMS analysis also shows that the recently passed health care bill increased health care costs to 21% of GDP by 2019.  This figure is frightening.  In addition to this increased spending in health care, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has stated that under current spending levels, by 2020, American taxpayers will be paying $2 billion dollars per day in interest alone on the national debt.  It also estimates that the debt will be $20 trillion by that year.  Our nation’s economic future requires that this Administration and Congress exercise serious fiscal restraint and stop excessive spending. 
 
Thank you and I yield back.