WASHINGTON – Congressman Connie Mack (FL-14) issued the following statement this evening after the House of Representatives voted 220 to 215 on a health care “reform” bill that will increase taxes on American families and small businesses, raise the federal deficit, and put politicians and bureaucrats in charge of your health care decisions.

Mack said:

“The American people don’t want bigger government and higher taxes. They don’t want politicians and bureaucrats to come between them and their doctors when making their health care decisions. And they don’t want their children and grandchildren to be saddled with mountains of debt. But sadly, that’s exactly what the Democrats’ health care “reform” bill does.

“From the start of this important debate, I have been sounding the alarm about the frightening pace in which the Obama Administration and the Democratic Congress have been moving our country toward greater government regulation and control. They have passed a $4 trillion budget, an $800 billion “stimulus” plan, and trillions of dollars in bailouts for industries that are “too big to fail.” They have shoved new regulations, more spending, and higher taxes down our throats. Today’s health care bill is no exception.

“The American people have spoken loud and clear. They want free-market reforms that keep taxes low, spending in check, and preserve the doctor-patient relationship, not a government takeover of health care. That’s why I strongly supported the Republican alternative plan today, and why I support solutions such as health savings accounts, association health plans, tort reform, tax incentives for those who purchase insurance, improving transparency in hospital and insurance costs, and allowing individuals to purchase insurance across state lines.

“The price of universal health care, as proposed by President Obama and the Democrats in Congress, is in the trillions of dollars, but the true cost is ultimately a loss of our freedoms. The people of Southwest Florida, and indeed the nation, lost today. Congress can and should do better than this terrible bill.”

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