Constituent Response From Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison Dear Friend: Thank you for contacting me regarding health care reform legislation. I welcome your thoughts and comments. I voted against the health care reform legislation that was signed into law by President Barack Obama in March 2010. Rather than offering Americans affordable options to health insurance and reigning in rising costs, this bill results in higher taxes on families and businesses, imposes mandates and penalties for individuals and states, and adds trillions to the cost of health care and the national debt. I believe this is the wrong approach to reform. The President and the Democratic leadership rushed this bill through the House and Senate. The closed-door negotiations and the denial of any bipartisan suggestions resulted in the passage of a bill that was not supported by a majority of the American people. I offered an amendment to allow states and American taxpayers the opportunity to opt out of this bill, including the higher taxes, unfunded mandates, penalties, and other harmful provisions. This bill tramples on state and individual rights in what I believe is a violation of our Constitution. That is why I fought so hard for an opt-out provision. Unfortunately my amendment failed, but twenty-seven states have already filed suits challenging the constitutionality of this bill and the federal takeover of our health care system. Fortunately, two federal district court judges have agreed and found health reform to be unconstitutional. This bill also imposes higher taxes and penalties at a time when families are struggling to put food on the table and businesses are trying to survive during a struggling economy. In fact, Americans are taxed before they see any of the so-called benefits of reform. I strongly oppose these new taxes, but if they are included, at the very least, I believe the benefits should be aligned with the cost burdens imposed. To provide relief for taxpayers from this tax imposition, I offered an amendment to align the start date of the taxes and benefits. Unfortunately, my amendment failed in a party line vote. This bill will also make drastic cuts to Medicare, thereby reducing access and quality of care for our senior citizens. These cuts could cause doctors and other health care providers to stop seeing Medicare patients. Hospitals, particularly in rural areas, may have to close their doors. This bill is paid for on the backs of our seniors. Americans were given a false choice: this bill or nothing. I believe there are better health care solutions that will actually lower costs, expand access to quality care, and increase patients’ options — without the threat of government control. These superior options will keep patients at the center of their health care and take the bureaucrats out of the equation. The right approach to health care reform would fix what is broken with our system without destroying what works. Throughout the debate, I put forth targeted and fiscally responsible ideas that would have, through market-based competition, increased options for coverage and reduce costs. I was the lead cosponsor of the Health Care Freedom Act of 2009 (S. 1324) by Senator Jim DeMint. This bill would have provided tax credits for individuals who purchase their own insurance so that the coverage they buy is portable. It would have implemented nationwide medical malpractice reform. It would have created a web portal so comparing insurance plans is easier. It would have allowed individuals to purchase insurance across state lines. It would also have allowed states the flexibility to provide coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions. Yet the Democratic leadership would not allow these commonsense and bipartisan suggestions to be added to the bill. Unfortunately, S. 1324 was not considered by the full Senate prior to the adjournment of the 111th Congress. I am also a strong supporter and cosponsor of bills that would allow small businesses to pool together and purchase insurance, thus spreading risk and reducing their costs. All of these approaches have proven to be effective and would lead to more affordable and accessible health insurance. Recently, Representative Eric Cantor (R-VA) introduced H.R. 2, the Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act, with 182 cosponsors. This bill is the first piece of legislation in the 112th Congress and demonstrates the new House majority’s commitment to replacing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. H.R. 2 passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 245-189. Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell offered this legislation as an amendment to S. 223, the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act, in February 2011. Unfortunately, the vote failed 47-51, with no Democrat Senators voting yes. You are among thousands of Texans who have written to express their views on this topic. I believe the concerns expressed about this federal takeover of our health care system are well founded, and I hope you remain willing to speak out about the issues you care about, whether that be at the polls, in conversations with your state and local elected officials, or in your community. I appreciate hearing from you, and I hope you will not hesitate to contact me on any issue that is important to you. Sincerely, Kay Bailey Hutchison United States Senator 284 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 202-224-5922 (tel) 202-224-0776 (fax) http://hutchison.senate.gov PLEASE DO NOT REPLY to this message as this mailbox is only for the delivery of outbound messages, and is not monitored for replies. Due to the volume of mail Senator Hutchison receives, she requests that all email messages be sent through the contact form found on her website at http://hutchison.senate.gov/contact.cfm . If you would like more information about issues pending before the Senate, please visit the Senator's website at http://hutchison.senate.gov . You will find articles, floor statements, and press releases, along with her weekly column and monthly television show on current events. You can also sign up to receive Senator Hutchison's weekly e-newsletter. Thank you. Is the Constitution the Supreme Law of the Land or not? I GUESS THE SCOTUS HAS ANWERED THAT QUESTION Is violence the last resort, or does surrender precede it? Who is George Soros http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/14700 How does Obama expect to get re-elected? http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=255965 If a link above does not work, cut-and-paste to your browser. Please be aware that Barack Hussein Obama’s grandfather was a highly respected witch doctor with the Luo tribe. His white grandmother was VP at the Bank of Hawaii and she worked with and for Peter Geithner on other projects, Peter is the father of Timothy Geithner, Obama's choice of Treasurer of the US. We the People http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVAhr4hZDJE This email is archived at http://groups.google.com/group/richsrants?hl=en I'M MAD, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANY MORE http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/bprelutsky/2009/07/05/im-mad-as-hell/ . -- To join RichsRants, send email to: [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/richsrants?hl=en
