House Republicans' Press Conference on the PATH Act
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Republican Leadership Press Conference
March 22, 2012
Participants:
Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-CA)
Conference Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX)
Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI)
Congressman Joe Pitts (R-PA)
Congressman Bill Cassidy (R-LA)
Congressman Phil Gingrey (R-GA)
Congressman Joe Barton (R-TX)
Congressman Larry Bucshon (R-IN)
Congressman G.T. Thompson (R-PA)
Chairman Hensarling:
“Every day the American people are realizing that the president’s policies have failed, and in many respects are making the economy worse. We were told that if we passed his ‘stimulus’ plan, unemployment would never exceed 8 percent. Instead, we have 37 months where unemployment has exceeded 8 percent. We were told that he would cut the deficit in half in his first term and instead he has brought us the first, second, third, and now fourth trillion-dollar-plus deficit. We were told that his policies would reduce the price of oil and instead the price of gas has doubled.
“And certainly of all his policies the American people know his health care policies have failed. We were told it would create jobs and instead the Congressional Budget Office says it will cost us almost a million jobs. We were told that it would make health care more affordable and instead the Congressional Budget Office now tells us premiums will increase $2,100 per family. We were told that every American would be guaranteed the ability to keep their plan and there doctor, and instead CMS has told us, ‘Large reductions in Medicare payments to physicians would likely have serious implications for beneficiary access to care; utilization, intensity and quality of service.’ Translation: ‘It ain’t so.’
“Of all the 150 some odd boards, commissions, and committees that are put between people and their doctors, none are more ominous than IPAB: 15 unelected, unaccountable, bureaucrats who are there for one and only one purpose and that is to ration health care to our seniors and to engage in price controls. Seniors don’t want bureaucrats, they don’t want acronyms, they want access to their doctor of their choosing to make health care decisions and that is why it is such a great day for our economy and seniors that the House has repealed IPAB.”
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For additional information, contact:
House Republican Conference Press Office (conferencepress@mail.house.gov)
