Crapo: Fight Will Continue Over Health Care

Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo released the following statement regarding the reconciliation health care reform measure, which was approved on a vote of 56 to 43:


"This legislation is a slap in the face to Americans who have spent months objecting to the health care reform being pushed and prodded ahead by the majority party in Congress. This bill contains higher taxes, higher premiums, higher costs, more government control, unacceptable gimmicks and loss of Medicare services for seniors, among other things. It is most definitely not the health care reform that Americans want. Over the last several days, I have joined with my colleagues in offering amendment after amendment to deal with these problems. I offered an amendment that would have held the President to his promise that families earning under $250,000 won't see their taxes increased; it was rejected. Amendments were offered to strike the sweetheart deals reached by various states; to require certification that the bill won't result in an increase in health insurance premiums; and to direct Medicare cuts back into Medicare to strengthen and preserve the program--all of these, and dozens of others, were rejected.

"We have been fighting for all those Americans who have been shouting that they don't want this bill. They know that this bill and the health care reform legislation signed earlier this week will bury future generations in debt and burden them with unreasonable costs. The Administration and the majority leaders in Congress believe that the American people are wrong, and that they should just be quiet and get out of their way. But we will keep up the fight. I want the vast majority of Idahoans who have shared their thoughts with me about health care to know that I hear them, agree with their opposition and will keep up this fight on their behalf. This bill also arouses suspicion and fear on the part of most Americans that the federal government is invading the privacy of individuals on the most personal and intimate matter-their own health care. This is just the beginning of the effort to repeal the bad parts of the new law and to replace them with more rational, commonsense and cost-effective policies."