House Democrats Shut Out Republican Ideas on Healthcare - WHY?

Republicans have been shut out of offering ideas for Obamacare in the House but that has not stopped Republicans from coming up with some great ideas to help all Americans especially those who have trouble getting health insurance due to a precondition, changing jobs, or being laid off from a job and not being able to afford healthcare. You will not find an elected Republican that will not tell you that there is a problem with the healthcare especially the Medicare and VA programs along with the high cost of coverage.

The one item that could lower healthcare cost is Tort Reform. Democrats don't want to hear about Tort Reform since the trial attorneys donate the big bucks almost exclusively to Democrat candidates. This group of vultures have people at the Court House who are paid to give them names of people injured in auto accidents. They then contact the injured party and offer their services. It is a fact, as I was slightly injured when a person ran a stop sign and hit my car and within 24 hours, I had calls from two law firms that handle personal injury lawsuits.

When is the last time that you heard of Trial Attorneys donating to a Republican candidate for federal office? Just doesn't happen especially if it is a Republican conservative.

This morning I received an email from Cong Pete Sessions (R-TX), that dealt with healthcare and ideas which would help the healthcare system. These are good ideas that the American people could get behind BUT the Democrats in the House will not even look at any GOP ideas. Read what Congressman Sessions has to say and ask yourself why Speaker Pelosi refuses to even consider Republican ideas -- how much money is lining the pockets of Democrats in Congress to cause them to take this action?

From Cong Pete Sessions (R-TX) Email:

The Hill Report A Weekly Newsletter from Congressman Pete Sessions Week of August 17 – August 21, 2009

This week, I continued my work in North Texas, meeting with constituents and participating in the ongoing debate about the future of our health care. I’d like to share a few highlights from my week of health care discussions.

Congressional Dialogue with Eddie Bernice Johnson
On Monday, I joined my Dallas colleague, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), for a civil but spirited discussion on health care solutions.

Held at the City Place Conference Center in Dallas, the forum included various panel and dialogue sessions and was sponsored by 16 private entities, including Curran Tomko Tarski LLP, SMU Cox School of Business, Deloitte, US Chamber of Commerce, and The Health Care Industry Council.

During the Congressional Dialogue, I outlined the need for reform, Republican solutions for affordable health care, and the problems with government-run health care.

Without question, health coverage is currently unaffordable for many families and small businesses. The need for reform is clear.

I support patient-centered full coverage that provides for pre-existing conditions, chronic disease management, and the creation of large and high-risk pools for coverage.

Second, I support total access in coverage. Patients should have ownership of flexible, competitive, and interoperable plans, and insurance should be portable from job to job and across state lines. And Congress must level the playing field by empowering individuals and small businesses with the same tax advantages that corporations have: the ability to purchase insurance with pre-tax dollars.

Third, more competition in the marketplace is essential in helping drive down the cost of care. Congress should remove barriers for health savings account benefits. Additionally, our health care system needs physician compensation reform to reflect accurately the cost of treating a patient.

Lastly, America must remain focused on innovation for a 21st Century health care system. Medical research must be a top priority, and Congress should provide incentives for Electronic Medical Record interoperability. Tort reform is also essential for reducing defensive medicine and freeing resources for more efficient and effective use.

These health care reform priorities highlight just a few of the steps that Congress and the American people should take to enact solutions for affordable health care.

As you know from previous newsletters, I do not believe that President Obama’s government-run health care plan is change Americans can afford. Rather, it will result in higher costs, fewer options, and interference in the patient/doctor relationship.

In the end, attendees of the Congressional Dialogue could see clearly that Congresswoman Johnson supports government-run health care and I do not. To learn more about our contrasting positions, read our opinion editorials published in the Dallas Morning News on Monday.