Ohio's 8th Congressional District Blog

On CNN's State of the Union, Boehner Challenges Speaker Pelosi to Allow Vote on GOP Health Care Plan

Posted by Press Office on November 02, 2009

In an appearance this morning on CNN’s State of the Union, Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) challenged Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to allow a debate and vote on the Republican plan to make health care more affordable and accessible at a price our nation can afford. Boehner outlined the GOP's smart, fiscally responsible reforms in the weekly Republican address after Speaker Pelosi unveiled a 1,990-page government takeover of health care that raises taxes, destroys jobs, and cuts Medicare benefits for seniors. On the economy, Boehner noted that the trillion-dollar ‘stimulus’ isn’t working and asked, ‘where are the jobs?’ On Afghanistan, Boehner reiterated his concerns about the dangers of delaying a decision on U.S. troop levels. Lastly, Boehner stated his opposition to the Obama Administration’s decision to provide H1N1 vaccinations to Gitmo detainees before vulnerable American populations. Following are full video and key excerpts from Boehner’s interview with State of the Union host John King:

CLICK TO PLAY

BOEHNER CHALLENGES SPEAKER PELOSI TO ALLOW A VOTE ON GOP HEALTH CARE PLAN:

“What I’m hopeful for is to take these eight or nine ideas and put them together in a bill that’s being scored right now by the Congressional Budget Office and present it on the House floor during this debate. And I’m hopeful that Speaker Pelosi will allow us to offer an alternative. But what we do is we try to make the current system work better. We take a step-by-step approach by allowing people to buy insurance across state lines, allowing small businesses and other groups of individuals to group together for the purpose of buying health insurance at lower costs – like big businesses and unions can. We need to do something about junk lawsuits. I think that one of our proposals is to give grants to states who have innovative programs to help bring down the cost of health insurance.

“And, 34 states, today, have high-risk pools for those with pre-existing conditions. We want to encourage all states to have these. And we put more money into these high-risk pools so that we can bring down the cost of health insurance. And at the end of the day, what we’re doing with our proposal is lowering health care insurance premiums – lowering cost and expanding access. … I would hope that the Speaker would allow us to have a debate and a vote on our proposal.”

BOEHNER SAYS THE TRILLION-DOLLAR ‘STIMULUS’ ISN’T WORKING, ASKS ‘WHERE ARE THE JOBS?’:

“The President said that when he signed the bill that unemployment would not exceed eight percent. Now, we have unemployment at nearly 10 percent. He also said that jobs would be created immediately and the fact is, they haven’t. Most of the so-called jobs that have been saved or created are government jobs, even though the President promised that 90 percent of these jobs would be private sector jobs. Three million Americans have lost their jobs since the ‘stimulus’ was signed into law. And yes, the economy grew last month. But after $1 trillion of an economic ‘stimulus’ plan was spent, probably another $7 or $8 trillion that the Fed has pumped into the economy, I would hope that we’ve seen some economic growth. But Americans all around the country continue to ask the question, ‘where are the jobs?’”

BOEHNER EXPRESSES CONCERNS ABOUT DELAY IN PRESIDENT'S DECISION ON FUTURE OF U.S. STRATEGY IN AFGHANISTAN:

“The President made clear that we are not going to withdraw from Afghanistan. But it looked for every reason in the world to put off a decision. And, the longer this decision hangs, the more jeopardy and the more danger our troops on the ground there are in the middle of. … I’m concerned about this delay. I would hope that the President would make a decision and make it soon.”

BOEHNER OPPOSES OBAMA ADMINISTRATION PLAN TO PROVIDE H1N1 VACCINATIONS TO GITMO DETAINEES:

“I don’t think it’s a good idea. The Administration probably didn’t think it would be very popular either, that’s why they announced it on Friday night. We have prisoners in my home county who are going to get H1N1 shots while there are vulnerable populations who want the shots who can’t get them. I just think that’s wrong.”

Comments

The opinions expressed below are those of their respective authors and do not necessarily represent those of this office.

carol flynn commented on 11/2/2009

Why doesn't Boehner just put out HR3400 on the internet and go on FoxNews to discuss it?? What is the deal with challenging Pelosi to allow a vote on HR 3400.?She won't do it. America needs to see the bill!! Figure out a way for it to be seen and read. Get creative if you have to. Republican "leadership" are a bunch of stick in the muds..
Richard Schreck commented on 11/3/2009

My wife and I have excellent government managed health insurance - Medicare and TriCare. I had very good company health insurance. However, your idea for health care reform mentions allowing small business and groups of individuals to buy health insurance at lower costs like big business and unions do. If the idea is to create large pools of people, healthy and sick, that is a good idea. But large insurance pools will still need subsidies for the people with pre-existing conditions. Otherwise, only sick people will want to join the plan and healthy people will take their chances or by insurance elsewhere if they can. Of course, that will never work. What is the Republican plan to cover people with pre-existing contitions at an affordable cost? I have no idea. I need some information on that to support any Republican plan. I do not have it now. I also want to mention that my company, like most large companies, never "purchased" health insurance for its employees. Instead it was self-insured and paid for the health care costs itself. It hired a well-known insurance company to manage the plan but the insurance company billed my employer for the insurance costs, the administrative cost and a reasonable profit. It appears to me that my employer's plan was run just like Medicare and TriCare which hire private companies to run the plan. The company plan was very well run. Medicare and TriCare seem to me to be run even better. An additional comment. I am almost 80 years old and have been fortunately to have had excellent health. If I did not have Medicare, I probably could get affordable private insurance. However, my wife has several "pre-existing" conditions and a long list of medical treatments. Her average doctor and hospital cost are about $75,000 a year although Medicare only "approves" about $50,000. No private insurance company would insure her at an affordable cost. That is why I think that we need large insurance pools, incentives for everyone to join, and prohibitions against refusting to insure someone because of pre-existing conditions. I would like to know what the Republican plan is to address my concerns.
Christine Perdue commented on 11/3/2009

I agree with your views. I just learned another business in Dayton will terminate the 38 employees, close their business in Dayton so this leaves 38 more people without jobs! We do not need the health reform 1990 page bill they are proposing. I feel their intention is to bankrupt our America that we will never be able to recover. Why should the prisoners be protected from H1N1? They are criminals and the government wants to protect the criminals instead of decent American working people. I do not agree with our Administration placing an additional 10% tax on plastic surgeries! Get rid of Andy Stern of SEIU in Washington. How much money did he give Obama?
Al Vennemeyer commented on 11/3/2009

Comment We are heading toward another "government control" program destined for failure. Why can't we solve the current problems associated with insurance industry lobbyist, fraudulent claims, inefficient programs etc. without another government controlled program? How can You support a bill that cost 1.9 trillion dollars consisting of thousands of pages that you probably have not read, including numerous ?pork? projects? There is not doubt that Capitalism has gone awry, with the help of Democrats & Republicans, and will continue to worsen with this group of legislators. At the expense of appearing naive; it?s obvious that the real problem is not about Socialism or Capitalism; it?s about no regard for the natural laws of ethics toward your constituency. This obscenity will continue until we need to get back to the common sense basics outlined in our Constitution.
BJ Richmond commented on 11/3/2009

I have so many concerns about the poor leadership exhibited by Mr. Obama and his cohorts that I find it troubling to even turn on the news channels. I am so appreciative that Rep. Boehner is speaking out on the issues..many that there are. Obama shows poor judgment, apparent inability to make a decision, sets wrong priorities, is driving up the deficit to a point where it will put America at tremendous risk for us and future generations, questionable backgrounds of primary advisors, and who are all those czars? Then to have the audacity to try to shove a huge expensive healthcare bill down our throats which will only benefit a small portion of American citizens, and to pass the cost off to those who have. This is the land of opportunity, at least it used to be, for those who work hard, accummulate assets, and make good personal decisions regarding their lives and the lives of others. I have started to watch the House and Garden TV channel to get a feel for all those foreign countries which are attracting American citizens who want to leave the United States. Just joking..this is our country and I am proud of the consitution that governs it. I pray to God that it will not be violated. I also pray that Obama will do what he should have done months ago..support our troops in Afghanistan. Good job, Congressman Boehner. Don't let up.
Harold R. Huffman commented on 11/6/2009

I think we are at a very serious moment regarding our nations future! I believe we have a majority of people that have backbone and are opposed to a healthcare bill that is not just about healthcare. It is about giving up an American way of life for a suppressed, oppressed Marxist type government. Are we going to allow it to happen? I don't think so! Stand up friends and let them know what we really think of this crooked plan!