STAFF REPORTS

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Patrick McHenry (NC-10) called on North Carolina Senator Kay Hagan to oppose Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s government-run healthcare plan.

“The latest healthcare bill offered by Senator Reid is just another attempt by Washington Democrats to put a new name on the same government takeover plan we’ve seen twice before. In the House, 39 Democrats joined the American people in rejecting the government-knows-best approach to healthcare reform. Now, I urge my colleague, Senator Hagan, to join in opposition to the Reid bill, which will raise taxes by nearly half a trillion dollars, cut Medicare by another half a trillion dollars, and impose $28 billion in new taxes on employers that do not provide government-approved coverage.

“Unfortunately, this legislation fails to address the many common-sense healthcare reforms that are strongly supported by the American people and centrist Democrats. This plan still fails to reform lawsuit abuse, insurance companies are not forced to compete across state lines, and small businesses are prevented from pooling their resources to purchase affordable coverage for their employees. On top of that, the Reid bill permits the use of accounting gimmicks that will allow federal dollars to go to plans covering abortion.

“As our country continues to suffer from double digit unemployment, Democrats still see it fit to burden employers with new taxes that will ultimately be paid by American workers in the form of reduced wages and jobs. This plan’s price tag also means fewer benefits for seniors and more mandates that will drive up health insurance premiums.”