Crapo Goes On Greta Van Susteren Program To Discuss Health Care

Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo says Americans deserve to read and calculate the costs of a health care reform bill now before the Senate Finance Committee. Crapo, a member of the committee, is making an appearance tonight during the "On the Record" program hosted by Greta Van Susteren. The program airs in Idaho at 8:00 p.m. Mountain Time and 7:00 Pacific Time on the Fox News Channel.

"We have been working in the Finance Committee to improve the present bill by adding amendments," Crapo said. "One of the amendments authored by my colleague Senator Jim Bunning (R-Kentucky) would have required the final language of this bill, and the Congressional Budget Office scoring of the cost to taxpayers, to be posted on the Internet for 72 hours prior to any final vote.

"It seems a reasonable request, given the huge amount of interest and cost of this bill," he added. "But the amendment was voted down."

The Senate Finance Committee is in the third day of marking up the legislation, "America's Healthy Future Act of 2009". Crapo and others of the committee say the bill, left in present form, will sharply reduce insurance coverage to many seniors enrolled in the Medicare Advantage program and will increase taxes and costs for other policy holders and businesses trying to provide coverage for their workers. The overall cost of the bill could reach $1.7 trillion over a ten-year period.

"The President has said that if you like your insurance, you can keep it under his plan," Crapo added. "That is not the case with this legislation."