July 28, 2009, House Chamber, Washington, D.C.  Mr. Speaker:  In order to support the Democrats’ healthcare plan, we are asked to accept three arguments that are fundamentally absurd:

First, that the same government that pioneered $400 hammers and $600 toilet seats is somehow going to control healthcare costs;

Second, that the same government that runs FEMA is going to make our health care system more efficient and responsive;

Third, that the same government that runs the IRS is going to make our healthcare more compassionate and understanding.

Frankly, I doubt it.

Instead of putting government in charge of our health care decisions, let’s put patients back in charge.  We can do that by using tax credits to bring within the reach of every family a basic health plan that they can choose, that they can own, and that they can change if it fails to meet their needs. 

That’s what Republicans are proposing.  And it’s a much better way.