Press Releases

Goodlatte Statement in Support of Repealing Government Takeover of Health Care

Congressman Bob Goodlatte tonight voted in support of H.R. 2, the Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act.  Congressman Bob Goodlatte issued the following statement in response to passage of this repeal legislation:

“Tonight House Republicans, with my support, delivered on our promise to the American people to hold a vote on legislation that would repeal the Democrats’ sweeping health care reform law.  As I have said time and time again, the Democrats’ health care reform law is a monstrosity, which amounts to a big government takeover of our health care system – one that will lead to fewer choices, higher prices and rationed care.

The ‘health care reform’ law creates more than 150 new government agencies and programs at a cost of well over $1.2 trillion.  It mandates that folks have health insurance, makes significant cuts to Medicare and includes $569 billion in devastating new tax increases imposed on individuals and small businesses.

Americans are frustrated by rising health care costs, and that is why we in Congress must focus on policies that cut health insurance costs and make health care better, more available, and more affordable for all Americans.  It’s your job to make health care decisions for your family.  The government’s job is to ensure you have access to affordable alternatives and then get out of the way. 

I am a strong supporter of alternative proposals which allow for the purchase of health insurance across state lines, allow individuals and small businesses to join large pools to get more competitive rates, provide tort reform to cut down the high cost of defensive medicine, allow full tax deductibility of health insurance premiums, and provide for portability of health insurance and protection against pre-existing condition exclusions.  In addition, I support health insurance tax credits for individuals and families who don’t have access to employer-based health insurance, increasing the number of community health centers, and encouraging the use of health information technology to achieve greater efficiencies.

I will continue working to advance a positive, patient-centered strategy that puts patients, families and doctors, not Washington bureaucrats, in control of personal health care decisions.”

H.R. 2, passed the House of Representatives, with Congressman Goodlatte’s support, by a bipartisan vote of 245-189. Click here to see Congressman Goodlatte’s remarks from the House Floor in support of H.R. 2 (http://www.youtube.com/Repbobgoodlatte).