Wilson Statement on President Obama's Health Care Address

Contact: Ryan Murphy (202) 225-2452 (Office)

Wilson Statement on President Obama's Health Care Address

WASHINGTON - Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) issued the following statement today regarding President Obama's address to Congress on health care reform.

"Tonight's address to Congress will mark the 28th time President Obama has given a national speech on health care. It should be quite clear that at this point it is not the sales pitch but the product itself that many Americans find troubling.

"Republicans agree that we should pass targeted reforms to our health insurance industry. That was also the message shared by many Americans this August when they stood up at town hall meetings to have their voices heard. They want, as do we, to fix what is failing in our system; to give Americans assistance and more of their own dollars to purchase insurance; address runaway malpractice expenses that add to the cost of care; establish pooling mechanisms for individuals and businesses to secure more affordable policies. There are any number of different strategies we can pursue in a bipartisan manner to expand affordability and accessibility to health care without replacing our current health care system with a big government system."

"The President's speech - no matter how eloquent - will not erase the fact that the legislation being offered by his Democrat allies costs $1 trillion dollars, adds billions to our nation's debt, and imposes taxes on individuals and small businesses which will destroy millions of jobs. That is why Americans deserve a new effort and a new bill not a new speech."