WASHINGTON, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the
following statement on President Obama’s national address on health care before
a Joint Session of Congress:
“President Obama took a critical step tonight in putting
this conversation back where it belongs: on solutions to one of our biggest
national challenges. Instead of hysteria and political attacks, we need
to discuss how we fix the health care system. He laid out a clear
vision for how we can make that happen.
“People can disagree on the solutions, but the President did
a good job tonight of reminding people of the stakes if we do nothing. I
want to reiterate his message that those who are saying ‘no’ without offering
any solutions of their own are advocating: double-digit premium increases
for businesses and workers, more rationing by insurance company bureaucrats,
more denials based on pre-existing conditions, huge deficits and higher taxes
in the future, and less certainty in already uncertain economic times.
“As the President said tonight, ‘Now is the season for
action.’ It is time to fix our broken system, keep insurance companies
honest, give consumers more choice, and hold down costs. We must reform
health care so that no families are ever again bankrupted and torn apart simply
because they have the misfortune of getting sick or injured.”
Audio of Senator Merkley’s remarks is available online at:
http://www.merkley.senate.gov/imo/media/audio/Merkley_-_Reaction_to_Obama_Address.mp3
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