News & Press
Statement by Martha Roby on Today's Passage of House Democrats' Healthcare Bill(MONTGOMERY, AL) – Martha Roby, Republican candidate for the 2nd Congressional District, released the following statement after House Democrats passed their healthcare bill in the U.S. House of Representatives this evening:“I am disappointed that the Democrats in the U.S. House ignored the wishes of the American people and voted for a healthcare bill that makes healthcare more expensive, costs America jobs, adds to the national debt, and destroys the important doctor-patient relationship. Today, Democrats voted for higher taxes on small businesses. Today, Democrats voted for more government mandates on the American people. Today, Democrats voted to cut $500 billion from Medicare and our seniors. And, today Democrats did nothing to ensure that illegal aliens do not receive government benefits. The 2nd District is a conservative district and Alabama is a conservative state and our conservative voice needs to be heard. The House is led by liberal Democrats who are bound and determined to push their liberal agenda, not matter the cost to the American people. Just this year, we’ve seen bailouts, higher taxes and now government-run healthcare. While some members were allowed to vote NO today, America shouldn’t let them off the hook. It was these members who voted for this agenda and allowed the Democrat leadership to bring this bill to the floor today. They must be held accountable for the support of the liberal agenda that is now before Congress. Alabama needs to know that I would never vote for this leadership and their liberal agenda. If I was in the U.S. House of Representatives, I would have voted NO today. While it is easy to say I’d vote NO, Alabamians are looking for leadership and a better way. Not only would I have voted NO, I would have done everything in my power to stop this bill from coming to the House floor. I would work with like-minded individuals to bring about real healthcare reform that allow plans to be purchased across state lines; reforms to the tax code to treat equally those who purchase individual health insurance plans and those who receive group coverage through an employer; place ownership of healthcare in the hands of individuals, so that coverage may be transferred from job to job and state to state; provide coverage to those who are unable to afford insurance on their own by creating high-risk pools and Associated Health Plans; and medical malpractice and liability reforms. America’s healthcare system, though imperfect, is the best in the world. Reforms are needed, but the types of reforms that passed today will cost America jobs, increase the size of the federal government and do nothing to improve the quality of our healthcare system.” Today’s vote in the U.S. House of Representatives was 220-215. |
