November 7 – The U.S. House of Representatives voted on the health care reform bill proposed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Congressman Zach Wamp cast his vote against it and released the following statement:

 

“Big government is not the solution, it’s the problem. The Pelosi health care bill will force states to add millions to their Medicaid rolls without the money to pay for it down the road. Seven Democratic governors, including our own Phil Bredesen, have spoken loudly against it. And every day, I hear from many more Tennesseans who oppose this bill.

 

“Health care costs amount to one-sixth of the U.S. economy and the Democrats want the government to take it over. The 1,990-page Pelosi health care bill will cut Medicare, create new federal bureaucracies, increase the cost of health insurance, raise taxes on middle class families and cost more than a trillion dollars.

 

“In just 219 pages, the Republican alternative addressed the issue of pre-existing conditions, eliminated the insurance industry from capping lifetime benefits or cancelling coverage and provided responsible medical liability reform. Instead of imposing unfunded mandates on states like Pelosi’s bill, our solution would have increased affordable access to health care for all Americans without further burdening state budgets.

 

“Our nation has had a policy since 1977 that prevents taxpayer dollars from funding abortions because it is so offensive to so many in our country. Congressman Bart Stupak of Michigan introduced an amendment to the bill that simply continues this policy, which is a consensus position since Roe v. Wade became the law of the land. I support this amendment and it is my deep hope that it remains when the final House-Senate bill is negotiated.

 

“The Republican alternative would have done all of this without adding to our nation’s mounting debt. The Congressional Budget Office reported that the House Republican health care plan will reduce health care premiums by up to 10 percent and lower federal budget deficits by $68 billion over the next 10 years. The goal of health care reform should be lowering costs and giving Americans more control of their health care decisions.”