Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Charles W. Boustany, Jr., R-Southwest Louisiana, today voted against the House Democrats’ massive health care overhaul during a mark-up of the bill in the House Ways and Means Committee.

“This 1,000-plus page bill became public less than 24 hours ago, and the American people deserve a thorough review,” Boustany said.  “As a doctor, I saw firsthand the problems we have in health care, and I believe we can lower the cost of health care to make it more affordable for millions of Americans.  This bill fails to do that.  Democratic leadership in Washington wrote this bill quickly, without concern for the long-term costs for patients, doctors or taxpayers.”

According to a news report, the House Democrats’ health care overhaul will cost more than $1 trillion over ten years and be paid for with a $500 billion cut to Medicare and substantial increases in payroll taxes.  The bill could also raise premiums in the Medicare Part-D program, which provides drug coverage for millions of seniors, by more than 50 percent per month.

Boustany, a former cardiothoracic surgeon, supports providing patients and doctors with more information and more choices about health insurance and services.  By increasing choices and competition and making insurance companies more accountable to patients, the resulting lower costs will allow more families to develop a quality doctor-patient relationship.

The bill passed with a vote of 23-18 in the early hours of Friday morning.  It will now be considered by the full House later this month.

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