Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, as the House of Representatives addresses the very important issue of health care reform, we need to adhere to the principles of all physicians: first, do no harm.
Unfortunately, the legislation that came out of the House Education and Labor Committee late last week does not adhere to this principle. CBO tells us it will drive up the costs of health care in the United States. In fact, when it's fully implemented, over $200 billion a year this plan will cost, it will not protect the right to keep the insurance coverage that you currently have. If you like it--that was one of the underlying principles of the administration--this bill will not protect that right.
It will not adhere to that principle: do no harm. It will drive up costs. It will take away freedom of choice of the American citizens, and it is also going to have an impact on the ability for small businesses to provide insurance because of the taxes included in this bill. It's going to cost people insurance because small businesses will not be able to continue to afford the 8 percent payroll tax as well as an increase on small businesses filing a subchapter S.
First, do no harm. We need to adhere to that principle. Unfortunately, this legislation does not do that. END
