Congressman Souder is the Vice Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Domestic Policy and a member of the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Post Office, and the District of Columbia.
U.S. Rep. Mark Souder released the following statement today, after House passage of H.R. 3962. The bill narrowly passed the House by a margin of 220 -215.
“This government takeover of our health care system not only ignores the concerns of Hoosiers who voiced their opinions in letters and phone calls, at town hall meetings, and in visits to Washington—it also erodes choice, competition, and innovation, leaving us with higher taxes, increased deficits and bigger government.
“At a time of record unemployment across northeast Indiana, the 1,990 pages of regulation in this bill are a death sentence for jobs and employers. This bill raises taxes on small business owners and severely taxes innovation in the medical device industry in Kosciusko County.
“It is only a matter of time before the public option drives out private insurance and government becomes the sole bill-payer for health care services. And, under this single-payer system, federal bureaucrats will decide the course of action—not doctors and patients.
“I simply do not support a bill that raises taxes, restricts job growth, facilitates an unconstitutional takeover of 17 percent of our economy, and spends a trillion dollars.
“I voted in favor of the House Republican alternative bill today because while it is not perfect, it is reasonable. It lowers health care premiums and ensures coverage for those with pre-existing conditions at only a fraction of the cost of the Democrats’ plan.”
