100 Days And Still No Republican Health Care Bill

Statement

100 Days And Still No Republican Health Care Bill

Today Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Assistant to the Speaker, issued the following statement marking 100 days since Congressman Roy Blunt, Chairman of the GOP Health Solutions Group, guaranteed a Republican health care bill:

"Republican Leadership has certainly kept busy in the 100 days since Congressman Roy Blunt guaranteed a Republican health care bill -- carrying the water for the insurance industry, fear mongering, and peddling falsehoods about health reform. This week they've combined all three in a passionate defense of a giant insurance company that is using taxpayer-funded misinformation to terrify seniors. Sadly, they have shown little competency or enthusiasm in offering an alternative bill that will lower costs, protect consumers from losing their insurance, and offer affordable health care to those who have no coverage.

"Instead of working with us to finish a bill they claim to agree with 80 percent of, they have decided to quit and press the reset button. Keeping the status quo may be what the insurance industry wants -- their premiums have more than doubled in the last decade and their profits have skyrocketed -- but it is not in the best interest of the American people. Failing to act means we remain on the path of 14,000 people a day losing their insurance, and at least 18,000 unnecessary deaths a year because of a lack of insurance.

"It is time to move forward on an issue that is critical to the success of every family and our entire nation. Starting over from scratch may bring a smile to the face of the insurance industry, but Americans want and need health reform now."

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