On the floor of the US Senate, Republican senators emphasize that a bill that raises taxes, cuts Medicare, and limits health care choices as the Democrats bill would do is not an acceptable health care reform bill. Republicans believe we need to take a step-by-step approach to reform that focuses on lowering costs and covering the uninsured.
In speeches on the Senate floor, Republican Senators Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) question Democrats proposed Medicare cuts in the Baucus health care bill and ask whether seniors will be able to keep all of their benefits.
Senator Alexander talks about the problems with 1000-page bills, specifically the problems with the 1000-page health care bill, which would raise taxes, cut Medicare, reduce health care choices, and drive up the debt. Alexander urged Congress to take a measured, step-by-step approach to health care reform to cut costs without wasting billions of taxpayer dollars.
Senators Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) point out that Democrats health care reform plans would bankrupt state governments with unfunded mandates. Republicans want to take a step-by-step approach to reform that focuses on lowering costs and helping the uninsured.
On Capitol Hill, Senate Republicans point out that the Democrats trillion-dollar health care experiment would increase Americans taxes and cut Medicare benefits for seniors. Republicans also highlighted the fact that the Boxer-Kerry energy proposal would raise families energy bills and emphasized Republican support for our mission in Afghanistan.