The House of Representatives passed a health care bill, H.R.3962, Nov. 7.

Congressman Bob Latta (R- Bowling Green) voted no on the health care reform and told Toledo Free Press Nov. 9 that the bill is “a bunch of smoke and mirrors” and “bad medicine for the United States.”

Latta with H.R.3962.

“This bill is a deficit buster. When you look at the cost and intended purpose, it’s not doing what it said it would do,” Latta said. “There is not one person out there who believes we shouldn’t do something to help fix the health care system in this county. As far as this bill is concerned I don’t think you want to throw the baby out with the bath water.”

Latta said the original intention of a health care bill was to cover everyone and reduce the cost of care. He said the bill will cost approximately $1.3 trillion dollars and not everyone will be covered.

“[The Democrats] just want a true government take over of our health system,” Latta said.

The bill is just a “free for all,” Latta said. “We need to get back to the fundamentals and fix what needs to be fixed.”

Republicans were shut out from the get-go on this project, Latta said. He said the president claimed during campaigning any health care reform the American people would get to see word for word because cameras would be in the room as decisions were being made. The congressman said none of this took place and all decisions were made behind closed doors.

Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur voted yes on the bill.

Latta said the bill with significantly affect the elderly. The legislation will cut an estimated $5.5 billion from Medicare, the congressman said. Prices will rise on hearing aids and wheel chairs as the government has to tax these

In addition, Latta said the bill will affect small businesses.

“The bill is a true jobs killer. No one wants to talk about that,” Latta said.

Five million jobs could be loss if the Senate passes the bill, the congressman said. The bill requires an eight percent payroll tax, which could result in the loss of jobs.

“If a company has 10 employees and they all of a sudden have this new tax to pay for. The cost for the company may have to come out of that tenth person’s salary resulting in a job loss,” Latta said.

Latta said he is worried that the elimination of competition in health care will lead to government rations, as well as fewer people entering the field of medicine.

Another major issue that needs to be changed or addressed is health care for individuals here illegally, the congressman said. He said right now the democrats bill is so loose on this issue that you could “drive a truck through it.”

“Right now the bill doesn’t require proper identification for coverage,” Latta said. “The person who can afford to pay is going to be paying more to make up for those individuals who are here illegally.”

“Don’t raise taxes, don’t make it hard for people out there. What we want to do is make sure people have what they get right now and expand it,” Latta said. “We have to be out there and talking about this because it’s not in the best interest of the American people.”

H.R. 3962 passed with 220 votes to 215 votes, barely reaching the 218 votes required for passage. The bill is almost 2,000 pages in length.

Latta co-sponsored a Republican health care bill, H.R.3400.

To read the entire bill visit http://docs.house.gov/rules/health/111_ahcaa.pdf.

This entry was posted on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 3:57 pm and is filed under Community, Health Care.
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