McCaul calls Democrats' health care reform bill ‘job killer'
Tomball Magnolia Tribune
August 10, 2009
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (10th District) has called Democrats’ health care reform proposal a "job killer" and hopes Congress can put aside their political differences and come up with a plan to make health care cheaper and more accessible to Americans.
In an interview with the Tribune last week, McCaul acknowledged that both Republicans and Democrats agree that the current health care system needs to be reformed, but both sides have vastly different ideas on how to get it done.
"We do need to reform the system to make it more affordable and accessible," he said. "We all agree on that. But the question is, how do you do it? Do you do it through government run mandates, do you do it through incentives for people and the private sector?"
The plan proposed by President Barack Obama calls for mandatory health coverage for employers, a federal public health advisory committee, and creates the possibility of a government-run health care plan. Obama and the Democrats’ plan also comes with a $1 trillion price tag.
"This plan takes away choice and freedom and turns it into more government run," McCaul said. "How you compromise on that is going to be a very difficult challenge.
The concern with the government run option is that the private health care plans can’t compete with the government. And if the government doesn’t play by the same rules, then it becomes the only game in town."
McCaul said he has talked with his constituents in his district, which stretches from Katy to Tomball to Austin, and that the vast majority, up to 80 percent, were opposed to the Democrats’ plan.
"That’s a pretty strong number in any sort of polling," he said.
In response to the current plan offered by Obama, McCaul has co-sponsored a bill (HR 3218) which, in part, utilizes the idea of stronger purchasing power by groups in order to drive down the cost of health care plans.
"Our idea is to allow associations, businesses, churches to pool their numbers across state lines to increase their purchasing power and drive down the cost of health care coverage," McCaul said. "I think that’s a good private sector solution rather than a government run takeover."
Other than the steep price tag that comes with Obama’s plan, McCaul cites the creation of the federal health board and mandated employer coverage as the two biggest issues with the current proposal.
The Democrats’ plan states that employers must provide health insurance to their employees, or face up to an 8 percent payroll tax.
"A lot of my small businesses say they’re going to have to lay people off, that it’s going to kill jobs," McCaul said.
Republicans have also countered with a $700 billion plan that would offer tax credits and not require employee coverage. That plan also doesn’t include a governmental role in health care.
So far Republican support of Obama’s plan has been nearly non-existent. But that may not matter much now that the Democratic-controlled Congress is pushing for a quick vote on the bill. Obama previously had stated he wanted the bill passed by July 31.
He has since backed off that timeline, targeting the end of the year now. However, Democratic leaders were pushing for passage of the health care reform bill prior to the Congressional August recess.
"All they’ve done is stiff arm us, we haven’t been a part of the negotiation," McCaul said. "They’ve had their plan. There is this great rush to get something done that is going to have an impact on the American people for decades. It seems to me we should have the adequate time to get it right, rather than try to cram it down the American people’s throats right before our August recess."