Time to discard the burdens and costs of Obamacare
Secretary Rick Perry
Cleveland.com
July 25, 2017
On Jan. 25, 2007, then-Sen. Barack Obama delivered a speech declaring that ”the time has come for universal health care in America.” Two years later, he was president of the United States — and he told a joint session of Congress that health care was his top priority. Just over a year after that, Obamacare became the law of the land.
America has been staggering under its burdens and failures ever since.
Insurance companies have pulled up stakes in states across the country, leaving consumers few options throughout the country.
Costs have risen dramatically, despite Democratic promises Obamacare would lower insurance costs. Patients have lost choices, doctors and insurance plans, and in some cases, lost access to cancer specialists and other life-saving caregivers.
…
I served as governor of Texas, the second largest state, for 14 years. I know full well that Texans largely have different ideas about health care than well-intentioned Washington bureaucrats.
…
The proposal from Congress contains many positive reforms to Medicaid — in fact, they are included in the Senate’s Better Care Reconciliation Act. These would give states more control to deliver better care at lower costs for those in need.
…
There is an historic opportunity for Congress to finally empower people and states and move control out of Washington. There will not be another opportunity like this for a very long time.
It has never been enough to repeal Obamacare. Repeal is obvious, because its failure is obvious. Replacing it is much harder work. But it must be done, with a focus on returning health care to states, individuals, and the health care professionals that care for them.
The debate over health care has consumed Washington for over a decade. America can’t afford another decade of spiraling costs, political bickering, or inaction.
This may be the only window we have to do this. Millions of Americans are depending on their representatives to repeal this crushing law and can benefit from the common-sense solutions being considered in the Senate.
We cannot, and must not, fail them any longer.
