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Congressman Sam Graves - Representing the People of Missouri's Sixth District
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Straight Talk with Sam
Volume 9, Issue 28, July 13, 2009
 
Straight Talk With Sam
Keeping the Government Out of Your Health Care
 
I have always believed that a government should do a few things and do them well. Every day it seems we hear about a federal government that is growing larger and taking over more and more of our private sector. In fact, taxpayers now partly own a car company and several banks. Now, the government wants to take over the health care industry.
The President continues to say that he wants a “public” option in any health care reform legislation. Evidence points to the fact that a government-run health care system would soon become the only option for many Americans. 120 million individuals could lose their current coverage as a result of the government-run plan reimbursing at Medicare rates, according to non-partisan actuaries at the Lewin Group.
I will oppose any attempt to put the federal government in charge of your health care. I believe that it will result in too many Americans being forced onto the government run program. Your family should choose its own doctors, not federal bureaucrats.
The program could cost the taxpayers as much as $1.5 trillion. In an era where Washington has record budget deficits that will mean only one thing: higher taxes. There are many proposals to pay for the bill. Some lawmakers want to implement a soda pop tax increase, others want to tax health benefits and still others want a new national sales tax.  
Republicans and Democrats need to work together to find alternatives to putting the federal government in charge of your health care.
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Washington, D.C. Office
1415 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-7041
Fax: (202) 225-8221
Liberty District Office
113 Blue Jay Drive
Suite 100
Liberty, Missouri 64068
Phone: (816) 792-3976
Fax: (816) 792-0694
St. Joseph District Office
201 S. 8th Street
Room 330
St. Joseph, Missouri 64501
Phone: (816) 233-9818
Fax: (816) 233-9848