Local Republicans Stand Against "Ram It Through" Health Plan

New Radio 740 KTRH's website posted an article today that we thought you might find interesting written by John Labus entitled, "GOP "Ideas", But No Support" -Congressional Republicans say they won't back President Obama's latest healthcare proposal, even though the White House claims a bipartisan effort.

The article reads:

The problem, according to Humble Congressman Ted Poe, is President Obama is only paying lip service to the Republicans' ideas. "Any way you dress this up, it's still the government takeover of healthcare... It's like putting a Frenchman in a pair of boots; that doesn't make him a Texan."

The President says he's including provisions like healthcare savings accounts, and allowing insurance companies to cross state lines to sell their plans.

"He says he's willing to do something to allow states to sell health savings accounts through their exchanges, although the legislation itself would make that virtually impossible." Mike Tanner at the Cato Institute says President Obama plans to include tort reform for medical malpractice, but the allocated amount is so small, no one would notice.

Houston Congressman Pete Olson says the president is using the right terminology, but is still missing the point. "We need the details; certainly health savings accounts, it looks like he was talking about them to use for people who lack coverage. We should expand that to every American."

If the Democrats are determined to get healthcare done before the general election, they may use the so-called "nuclear option" - reconciliation. "It's clear that the President and Congressional Democrats don't want to sit down. They're going to force this through, through a procedure that really circumvents the will of the American public. I think this is a terrible mistake on their part." Woodlands Republican Kevin Brady says if Democrats go that route, he believes many of them will be looking for new jobs after the November election.