News and Press Releases
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October 29, 2009
WASHINGTON- U.S. Representative Lee Terry (R-NE) issued the following statement today after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled her latest version of a government takeover of America’s healthcare system: “After weeks of meeting behind closed doors with only a few colleagues, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is proposing yet another government takeover of our healthcare system. Her bill, that has now grown to almost 2,000 pages continues to add to our national debt, imposes higher taxes on small businesses, cuts to Medicaid benefits to seniors, and pushes more families onto the government dole. This latest version continues the Speaker’s out of control spending while adding absurd items like regulating vending machines.” “I’m proposing a simple and common-sense plan which will allow the public into a plan similar to what their representatives in Congress have. The ‘Simple Universal Healthcare (SUH) Act of 2009’ will protect the doctor-patient relationship, does not include any individual or employer mandates and creates no new taxes.” Below is a comparison of the SUH Act and Speaker Pelosi’s government takeover plan: Simple Universal Healthcare (SUH) Act of 2009 · Cost: $15 million · Simple plan, allows the public to have a similar plan as Members of Congress · 13 pages long · No tax payer money required · You remain in control of your healthcare, a government bureaucrat won’t come between you and your doctor · Does not permit taxpayer dollars to cover abortion · Must be a citizen or lawfully admitted to the U.S. for permanent residence to receive coverage · Can keep your plan if you change jobs or lose your job · No individual, business or state mandates Speaker Pelosi’s government-run plan · Cost: $900 billion + · Complicated plan that creates a new and massive government bureaucracy · 1,990 pages long · Creates a new tax on small businesses filing as individuals · The government will interfere with the doctor-patient relationship · Does not respect the sanctity of life · Allows for millions of illegal immigrants to receive healthcare coverage · Vague language is included in the bill, the word ‘shall’ is used 3,425 times · Creates individual and business mandates · Mandate on states to expand Medicaid will cost Nebraskans millions of dollars per year · Cuts Medicare payments to insurers · Includes a separate 13-page bill to repeal the sustainable growth caps on Medicare spending which will cost $200 billion · Creates billions in new taxes -30-











