Published: November 03, 2009 07:08 pm      

Heavy Reading

Hensarling makes 1,990-page health care bill available

A copy of the health care bill now awaiting a vote in the House of Representatives has been made available locally.

Members of Congressman Jeb Hensarling’s, R-Dallas, staff have placed a copy of H.R. 3962 at the Frankston Depot Library and in the district judges’ office of the Anderson County Courthouse.

“Last week, Speaker Pelosi introduced a 1,990 page government takeover of your health care that will cost taxpayers $1.3 trillion,” Hensarling noted. “I think it is important that East Texans clearly understand the consequences of such a take-over: little or no health care choice, decreased quality, longer wait times, higher taxes and 111 new federal programs.

“That is why I am providing the legislation to libraries and making it available on my Web site for you to read should you choose to do so.”

One of the provisions in the bill highlighted by Hensarling is that by 2013 the sale of private individual health insurance policies will be banned, requiring all health insurance to be purchased through the federal government.

George Rasley, director of communications for Hensarling’s office, said as the bill stands in its current form, that by 2013 private insurance likely will be eliminated.

“I can assure Congressman Hensarling will not vote for the bill in its current form,” Rasley said.

For the past several months the fight over health care reform has become an epic struggle. Those pushing for health care reform have labeled it a crisis the government must solve, but Rasley said the problem has been misrepresented.

“The problem isn’t health care,” Rasley said. “The problem is some people are having trouble paying for health care.

“We can change the way we pay for it without the government totally taking over,” Rasley added.

H.R. 3962 has a decent chance of passing the House, Rasley admitted, but does not know what would happen to the bill in the Senate.

The reason for the push to get it done this year, as Rasley believes, is that supporters of the unpopular measure do not want the vote drawn out into an election year, noting supporters of the measure want to, “pass it and get it off the table.”

Through the Congressman’s meetings with constituents across the 5th District, Rasley said they have seen a lot of anger over the issue.

“People are as mad as the devil about this,” Rasley continued. “They don’t want any part of this... They don’t want the government to take over the insurance they already have.”

Other parts of the bill highlighted by Hensarling include:

• A $1.3 trillion price tag over 10 years.

• Imposing $729.5 billion in tax increases on the American people.

• Creation of 111 new federal programs.

• An 8 percent tax on payroll of employers who do not purchase government-approved health care for employees.

• Raises constitutional questions by imposing a 2.5 percent tax on people who do not purchase government-approved health insurance.

Health care, Hensarling stressed, should remain a private matter.

“I want to ensure that you and your doctor make the decisions about your health care,” Hensarling said, “not a government or insurance company bureaucrat. You and your family should be able to get the health care you need, when you need it, and at a price you can afford. H.R. 3962 does not meet that test.”

To view H.R. 3962 online go to www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3962/show.