Deal blasts health care bill that passed

WASHINGTON – On a highly anticipated day in Congress, U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal, R-Ga., once again took to the House floor to speak out in opposition of, and to ultimately vote against, the health care overhaul bill that passed the House late Saturday night.

Deal says the bill will lead to more lost jobs, higher taxes, fewer choices and the elimination of the freedoms and liberties which are essential for patients and their providers.

Rep. Deal, Ranking Republican on the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, presented numerous amendments during consideration of the measure at the Rules Committee, which would have prevented benefits for illegal aliens and protect the ability of states to make independent decisions about healthcare policy-making. But the amendments were each rejected.

The following is the text of the Gainesville Republican's remarks from the House floor during Saturday's debate:

“I rise in opposition to this bill and I express three major concern.

“First of all, I raise a question. The question is, what authority in the United States Constitution gives this Congress the right to mandate that every citizen must purchase a
health insurance policy, and upon failing to do so shall be fined and possibly imprisoned? I think the answer to that question is - there is no such constitutional authority.

Secondly, make NO mistake about it. Illegal Aliens will receive government funded healthcare under this bill because all they are required to show is a Social Security number and a name. There is no way to prevent the same Social Security number from being used by numerous individuals, and there is no requirement that a picture ID be produced in order to prove that the person is in fact the name which appears on the Social Security card. If you think identity theft is a problem now, just wait until this bill passes!

And thirdly, this bill requires states to increase their Medicaid roles to 150% of the federal poverty level. In an ever increasing fashion, states will have to absorb the cost of this burden. I offered an amendment that would have allowed states to opt out from under this mandate, but it has been rejected. In states like mine where we have to balance our budget right now school teachers and law enforcement officers are having to take unfunded furlough days. If this bill passes it will get even worse. We should not be passing a bill that takes days and money out of the paychecks of teachers and law enforcement officers to pay for this piece of legislation.”