Bipartisan health care bill must include GOP proposals

On Tuesday, January 6, 2009, I cast my first vote in the U.S. House of Representatives in support of John Boehner of Ohio for Speaker of the House. This vote would ultimately become Nancy Pelosi's first victory of the year and a preview of what Republicans might expect as the minority party in the 111th Congress.

Immediately after Republican Leader Boehner presented the gavel to Speaker Pelosi, she addressed the House. Two statements from this speech still echo through my head as we discuss action on how to reform our nation's health care system. First, Speaker Pelosi said, "Without reservation, let us stand together, not just today, but in the days ahead..." Second, she urged Members of the House, "Let us listen to each other. Let us respect every voice and every view, and then together, let us act."

On July 14th, the House Democratic leaders introduced their health care reform proposal. Provisions include a tax increase of more than a half trillion dollars on American small businesses and working families, as well as a tax on jobs up to 8 percent of employers' payrolls. In addition, this bill is bad for the State of Mississippi. The legislation creates an unfunded mandate for states by expanding the Medicaid program to all individuals earning up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level. States are already having difficulty funding their current Medicaid programs. Governor Haley Barbour has pointed out that this expansion would burden Mississippi with an average increase of $360 million in additional costs for the next 10 years to fund Mississippi's annual state share of the Medicaid program.

In contrast, the Republican plan will make quality health care coverage available, affordable and accessible for every American, regardless of pre-existing health conditions. This plan will ensure that medical decisions are made by patients and their doctors, not Washington bureaucrats or health insurance employees. Individuals deserve the freedom to choose the health plan and the health care that best meets their needs. Also, if you change your job, you and your family should be able to keep your health insurance.

Moreover, House Republicans want to give employers more variety in making health care affordable and available to their employees and their families. Allowing smaller firms to join hands and purchase high-quality health coverage at a lower cost, just as big corporations do, is the cornerstone of our cost reducing proposal. If corporations can do this, why not your timber company, or your manufacturing plant, or your hardware store?

Health care choices are incredibly personal decisions that only you and your family can make. If President Obama and the liberal Pelosi-led Democrats are serious about health care reform, they will work with Republicans toward a bipartisan plan that 435 Members of the House can support.

True bipartisanship means exchanging ideas, not just seeking votes. Do not take my word for it. All you have to do is read what Speaker Pelosi said when she asked Members of the House to, "...listen to each other. Let us respect every voice and every view, and then together, let us act." Unfortunately, the President and the Speaker have instead chosen to ignore the bipartisan opposition to this one-size-fits-all health care bill and go it alone, without regard to sound Republican ideas that will work. If the Democrats wanted a bipartisan bill, they would produce a bipartisan bill.