Rep. Boehner Should Read The Republican Plan For Health Care Reform
On June 2, 2009, House Minority Leader Rep. John Boehner released a statement about the White House's "smoke and mirrors" report on health care and the economy. However, Rep. Boehner neglects to address the fact that the every Republican alternative for health care reform includes tax credits (which cost the government billions in revenue) and would keep American families from receiving the health care they need.
Rep. Boehner Evidently Doesn't Know That The Republicans' Health Care Plan Would Cost Money And Prevent Families From Accessing Care
Rep. Boehner: "This report is nothing more than smoke and mirrors. Everyone agrees that reducing the cost of health care would benefit our economy, but the Administration hasn't offered a credible plan to do so without raising taxes or rationing care. Republicans want to work with the President and Democrats in Congress to ensure that every American has access to affordable, high-quality health coverage." [GOPLeader.gov, 6/2/09]
The Republicans' Tax Credit Not Only Costs Money, It Also Fails To Adequately Provide The Funds For American Families To Purchase Coverage
Republicans Plan To Tax Employer-Based Health Coverage In Order To Fund Tax Credits. According to the Kaiser Network: "The legislation also would give $5,710 tax credits to families and $2,290 tax credits to individuals to help pay for health insurance...The credits would be funded by taxing employer-provided health benefits..." [KaiserNetwork.org, 5/20/09]
However...
2008: Full Family Coverage Cost Nearly $13,000. The Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured reported: "On average, employees with employer-sponsored coverage pay 16% of the cost of their own coverage and 27% of the cost of family coverage. In 2008, the full annual cost of employer-sponsored health insurance averaged $4,704 for an individual policy and $12,680 for a family policy." [KFF.org, accessed 1/14/09, emphasis added]
The Democrats Are Proposing a Public/Private Hybrid System To Offer Health Coverage To All Americans, In Whatever Form They Choose
Gov. Dean: "We Will Have A (Public/Private) Hybrid System." Think Progress posted a video clip of Governor Dean saying: "The American people will preferentially choose Medicare, but not all of them will choose Medicare. So we will have a hybrid system. Many more people will be in a public sector because it will probably be better for them. But they will only be in the public sector if they want to be, and they can get out of the public sector if they choose to try something different later on. That seems fair to me. I don't think we should impose a single payer on everybody, but I do think we should give Americans the choice of having one if they like it. If it works for them, that's what they'll choose." [ThinkProgress.org, 3/4/09, emphasis added]
AMA President Nancy Nielson: "Health Care Reform Should Include A Public And Private Mix." "Health care reform should include a public and private mix of insurance. The private insurance market must be improved for patients and health care professionals, and the public safety net must be preserved for those in need." [New America Foundation, 3/10/09, emphasis added]
Unlike Rep. Boehner, Americans Are Fed Up With Their Current Access To Health Care
Rep. Boehner: "The American people are asking for common sense solutions, not more photo-ops that produce a good headline but make no real difference to the millions of Americans struggling to pay for their health care coverage." [GOPLeader.gov, 6/2/09]
More Than 70% Of Americans Polled Want An Increased Governmental Role In Health Care. According to CNN, "seventy-two percent of those questioned in recent CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey say they favor increasing the federal government's influence over the country's health care system in an attempt to lower costs and provide health care coverage to more Americans, with 27 percent opposing such a move. Other recent polls show 6 in 10 think the government should provide health insurance or take responsibility for providing health care to all Americans." [CNN.com, 3/5/09]
The Majority Of Americans Want An Obama-style Mix of Public and Private Health Care. According to a poll conducted by Lake Research:
- 60% of Americans favor "providing access to affordable, quality health care for all Americans even if it means raising taxes."
- 71% of Americans favor "providing access to affordable, quality health care for all Americans even if it means a major role for the federal government."
- 73% of Americans prefer "having a choice of private health insurance or a public health insurance plan." [Lake Research poll, 01/09]
For more on Rep. Boehner's stellar writing skills, click here.
