In the dead of night on Sunday, Democrats rammed their health-care overhaul through Congress. Some say we made history. I say we broke with history, turning our back on this country’s finest traditions of limited government, personal responsibility, and the consent of the governed. Republicans remain committed to reforming health care in a way that honors these values. For the past year we have suggested ways to fix the system by reducing costs—specifically through instituting tort reform and by allowing Americans to purchase insurance across state lines.
As Washington Democrats embark on their attempt to sell government-run health care, they are in for a rude awakening. A few more speeches about the same bad law will not change any minds. The American people don’t want a government takeover of health care and House Republicans will work every day to repeal this law and start over.
If we repeal ObamaCare, we can start over with common-sense market solutions to lower the cost of health insurance. We can end the era of defensive medicine with real malpractice reforms, and use the savings to fund state programs that provide insurance for Americans with pre-existing conditions. We can renew our commitment to seniors in Medicare and pursue the kind of reform required to achieve its long-term solvency.
Finally, if we repeal this bill, we can restore the historic prohibition on using public funding for elective abortion. House Democrats were wrong to exchange 30 years of pro-life statutory protections for a piece of paper from the most pro-abortion president in American history.
