>>Republican Study Committee Newsletter. UPDATE Nov. 10, 2009

RSC Update: Tuesday, November 10, 2009

From the Chairman

As you’re probably aware, the House of Representatives narrowly passed Speaker Pelosi’s disastrous 2,000-page takeover of health care on Saturday.  The 215 votes against the Pelosi plan came from Republicans and 39 Democrats who realize that this bill will further damage our health care system.

While most Americans desire a clear set of reforms that offer more choices, more competition, more innovation, higher quality, and lower costs, PelosiCare is a bureaucratic nightmare that hands greater control over your personal medical decisions to faceless bureaucrats in Washington.  This government-takeover of health care means hundreds of billions of dollars in new taxes on individuals and businesses at a time of record unemployment.  It means more out-of-control spending paid for by our children and grandchildren.  It means less freedom for Americans to purchase the coverage that best suits their needs.  And it will expand government interference in your health care decisions by leaps and bounds.

House Republicans drafted over one hundred amendments to this bill, but the Democrat majority refused to even allow them a public debate and vote. With the one amendment allowed to us, House Republicans offered a straightforward alternative that would have lowered insurance premiums by up to ten percent without the byzantine maze of mandates, taxes, commissions, and bureaucracies of PelosiCare. Once again, our common sense ideas were rejected by the majority party.

Speaker Pelosi and her allies passed a terrible bill on Saturday – but the fight is not over.  While the legislative process now focuses on the Senate, Republicans in both chambers will continue to offer positive solutions to put more power in the hands of patients, not the government.  This debate is too important to lose – the future of our nation hangs in the balance.

Sincerely,

Congressman Tom Price

Chairman, Republican Study Committee

RSC Media Activity

Every week, Republican Study Committee members work hard to ensure that the conservative viewpoint is well-represented in all corners of the media.

• Rep. Doug Lamborn (CO-05): Pelosi’s Health care Plan Would Cost Too Much Money, Freedom; Colorado Springs Gazette, November 5.

• Rep. John Shadegg (AZ-03): The No-Cost Path to Cheaper Health Care; Wall Street Journal, November 5.

• Rep. Darrell Issa (CA-49): Walls Can Fall; American Spectator, November 9.

RSC Legislative Activity

RSC members have made it a priority to introduce productive, conservative alternatives to the Democrats’ reckless agenda.

• House Republicans drafted over one hundred amendments to Speaker Pelosi’s bill, including several to automatically enroll Members of Congress in the so-called government-run plan, but the Democrat-controlled Rules Committee refused to allow these amendments a debate or vote on the House floor.

• Rep. Sue Myrick (NC-09) introduced H.Res. 888, supporting the “Green Movement” in Iran which continues to fight for freedom, human rights, and the fundamental elements of democracy in that country.

Outlook

Here is a preview of upcoming Democrat proposals to advance their big-government, anti-taxpayer agenda.

• The focus of the health care debate moves to the Senate, although Senator Harry Reid has indicated that the timeline for moving forward may slip into 2010. The House is not in session this week

House Floor Activity

The following key legislation came through the House of Representatives last week.

• The House passed H.R. 3962, Speaker Pelosi’s 2,000-page takeover of health care, by a 220-215 margin late Saturday night.

• The House also passed H.R. 2868, legislation dealing with chemical facilities and H.R. 3639, which would move up the effective date of the CARD Act (legislation enacted earlier this year that results in increased credit card rates for all consumers while reducing the availability of credit).

Money Monitor

Each week, the RSC Budget and Spending Taskforce compiles a weekly report on the latest budget and spending news. Additionally, the RSC Money Monitor tracks how bills passed by the House affect authorizations, mandatory spending, and federal government revenue. This week’s Money Monitor will be posted here when available.

###

House Republican Study Committee
Rep Tom Price, M.D., Chairman

Paul Teller, Executive Director
Brad Watson, Policy Director
Natalie Farr, Professional Staff
Emily Henehan, Professional Staff
Bruce “Fez” Miller, Professional Staff
Jonathan Day, Director of Member Services and Business Outreach
Alex Shively, Director of Conservative Coalitions
Brendan Buck, Communications Director
Brian Straessle, Deputy Communications Director
Curtis Rhyne, Staff Assistant

424 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 226-9717
http://rsc.price.house.gov
RSC on Facebook
RSC on YouTube
RSC on Twitter