Republican Address 10/24/2009

[0:00] ..." I am senator Mike Johansson Nebraska. My Republican colleagues and I have a simple test or reforming health care. Well this legislation improve your life. Here's what"...

[1:09] ..." the promise of better insurance benefits for you and your family. Your health insurance will be taxed. And near premiums will go up. The recent college graduate burdened with student loans. You'll be forced to buy health insurance the government mandates. And if you refuse. You'll be hit with a penalty. To our seniors. Who wish to receive care in the comfort of their homes. Funding for hospice care and home health care services. Would be cut. My state Nebraska stands to lose 100 in 26. Million dollars. -- home health services. In many of the 38 Nebraska hospices. Would be in danger. Of letter -- shutting their doors. Nearly 500. Billion dollars will"...

[3:30] ..." few deliberate over legislation. That will mean higher premiums across the board. Higher taxes for hardworking families. And cuts to Medicare for senior citizens I ask. Would this improve your life. Republicans are in favor of"...

[4:05] ..." But hundreds of pages filled with back room deals. Higher insurance premiums. Higher taxes and cuts to Medicare. Are not the answer. I am senator Mike Johansson Nebraska. Thank you for your time."...

[0:00]" I am senator Mike Johansson Nebraska. My Republican colleagues and I have a simple test or reforming health care. Well this legislation improve your life. Here's what I mean. Americans face rising health care costs in its increasingly. Difficult to get access to health care. True health care reform should decrease what you're -- In make it easier for you to receive care. That should be a no brainer. Yet current proposals in congress don't accomplish this goal. And could even have the opposite affect. Negatively impacting. Each and every one of us. But the working mother with a disabled child who uses a flexible spending account. And those pretax dollars for treatment medicine. And therapy for your child. This plan. Well and these accounts as we know them today. And result in increased out of pocket costs. The factory worker -- Ford gone pay raises. For the promise of better insurance benefits for you and your family. Your health insurance will be taxed. And near premiums will go up. The recent college graduate burdened with student loans. You'll be forced to buy health insurance the government mandates. And if you refuse. You'll be hit with a penalty. To our seniors. Who wish to receive care in the comfort of their homes. Funding for hospice care and home health care services. Would be cut. My state Nebraska stands to lose 100 in 26. Million dollars. -- home health services. In many of the 38 Nebraska hospices. Would be in danger. Of letter -- shutting their doors. Nearly 500. Billion dollars will be cut from Medicare. Nationwide. The bottom line is this. We're nearing 10% unemployment. We have a record budget deficit. In many families are working hard just to put food on the table. And to pay the bills. Yet there's no doubt about it. These proposals will negatively impact pocketbooks. In paychecks. Across America. President Obama has promised open deliberations. In front of C span's cameras. Are all Americans to learn how reform will impact them. However a 1500. Page bill. All of carve -- in back room deals. Is currently being brokered behind closed doors. We're about to significantly. Alter won six of our economy. Now is not the time dish out Americans out. Reports of this deal making that are shameful. Why -- Michigan. Rhode Island Oregon and Nevada. It's special deals on Medicaid costs. Why do New Yorkers with Cadillac plans to get a pass. Campaign attacks. It is shameful. And now as a select few deliberate over legislation. That will mean higher premiums across the board. Higher taxes for hardworking families. And cuts to Medicare for senior citizens I ask. Would this improve your life. Republicans are in favor of lowering costs. Reforming insurance so Americans can get care when they need it. In providing assistance for those who can't afford insurance. You -- we stand ready with ideas to tackle those challenges. But hundreds of pages filled with back room deals. Higher insurance premiums. Higher taxes and cuts to Medicare. Are not the answer. I am senator Mike Johansson Nebraska. Thank you for your time."