Senator Demint releases statement on President Obama’s speech

Dwayne Greene
Published: September 9, 2009

Senator Jim Demint releases a statement on President Obama’s speach:
Today, U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina), chairman of the Senate Steering Committee, made the following statement:

“Tonight’s speech was a perfect example of why most Americans oppose President Obama’s health plan. He continues to insist a government takeover of health care is the only option, while providing no proof it will lower costs or improve care, and he belittles the millions of informed Americans who oppose his plan. In short, his message tonight was: Be quiet America, Washington knows best.“

“The bill that President Obama outlined tonight was the same thing we’ve heard from Democrats for years: more government control, more regulation, more mandates, more taxes, and less freedom and less choice for Americans. The President’s claim that government run health care will not increase the deficit is offensive, as Medicare is tens of trillions in debt and Medicaid is bankrupting states.“

“But a government takeover of health care is not the only option; there are better solutions to accomplish the President’s goals. Republicans have pushed for common sense reforms for years. I have introduced my own bill, the Health Care Freedom Plan, that would ensures every American has access to health insurance they can own, afford and keep forever, but without raising taxes or taking away patient choice.“

For more information on Senator DeMint’s Health Care Freedom Plan, click here.

The Health Care Freedom Plan:

• Protects the right of Americans to keep their employer-based plan if they so choose.

• Provides Americans without employer-based health insurance with vouchers of $2000 for individuals and $5000 for families to purchase health insurance.

• Allows Americans with Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) to use their HSA funds to pay for insurance premiums, encouraging employers to contribute to their employees’ HSAs.

• Creates a national market for health insurance by allowing individuals to purchase health insurance plans in any state.

• Provides block grants to states to develop innovative models that ensure affordable health insurance coverage for Americans with pre-existing health conditions.

• Reduces predatory and frivolous malpractice lawsuits against physicians and hospitals.

• Assures that every health care consumer has access to price information prior to treatment so they can make informed decision about their care.

• Repeals financial bailouts (TARP) to fund health care vouchers.

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Flag Comment Posted by Islander on September 10, 2009 at 2:40 pm

I too agree with Charlestown. When Mr Demint had his townhall meeting at the Daniel Island country club it to talk about healthcare his remarks about south carolina workers showed to me how out of touch he is. Down the road in Cainhoy there are allot of folks who worked hard all there lives and have very little to show for it. He has never been down that road and never will!

Flag Comment Posted by Charlestowne on September 10, 2009 at 8:01 am

Senator DeMint, I know you believe you were picked by god to lead this country. Did God send you the health care freedom plan? Could we all see the tablets he burnt them into? Or did he come to you in your sleep? Why don't you come clean and tell us all about this special relationship you have with God. Tell us where your ideas come from. Tell us about your relationship with the Family. The secret organization you really represent.

Flag Comment Posted by Charlestowne on September 10, 2009 at 7:52 am

I'm sorry Mike if thathas been your experience with the VA. The system should be better then that. But no one is proposing such a system in the health reform bills. No one is proposing a single payer system or a system like the VA's. Most people will still have private insurance same as now. Those who do not qualify for private insurance because they have preexsisting conditions or can't afford it, can apply for some kind of public option. The government has no intention of taking over health care. Sorry for your problems I hope you get the care you need and deserve.

Flag Comment Posted by thomas on September 10, 2009 at 1:27 am

what mr. demint is suggesting is not reform it is a subsidy for the same insurance companys that are partly the blame for the problem. He talks about the cost to the taxe payers of health reform, who does he think will pay for his vouchers?? All this ammounts to is rewarding insurance companies for the shoddy service they are providing the public with the tax payer paying for it. In my opinion i would rather the government provide health care than to give the same money in the form of vouchers to the insurance companies. i have never heard of anyone who is chronically ill being thrown of medicare in fact after the insurance companies take your money during your healthy years then when you get sick they cancell your policy and u have to go on medicaid or medicare for treatment. So who is he representing??

Flag Comment Posted by mike on September 10, 2009 at 12:52 am

charlestowne you are so dead wrong let me give you an example, of the goverments healthcare service, as i have to use it now the VA unless you are going to sit there and tell me it would be different. when you are in severe pain and it takes a month to get a appointment then when you do you go and they say man you need a mri and that takes another month to get done, i bet you will be singing a different tune, but wait it doesn't stop there the next step is you get the mri done and in the mean time your assigned physican quits are transfers so you have to wait 2 more months to be assined a new one then you get to start over again because the mri might not be the same as whats going on at the present, and in the mean time you lay awake every night in pain are become addicted to pain pills, so obama can climb down off that horse and you to but then again maybe this is what you deserve.

Flag Comment Posted by Petaca on September 09, 2009 at 11:18 pm

I agree 100% with Chalestowne. Maybe Mr. DeMint was sleeping?

Flag Comment Posted by Charlestowne on September 09, 2009 at 10:20 pm

DeMint must be deaf or wasn't listening. Or is he still on his Waterlo kick. Or is the Family giving him instructions. Most of what is in his plan is in the presidient's plan. Let him put what isn't into a bill and have it voted on. His vochers do not control cost nor do they provide enough money to pay for health insurance. Nor does he give a cost to his proposal. Nor is it written into a bill. It has no details. Now where was a take over of health insurance by the government mentioned. It isn't in any proposal. The only place you find it is in DeMint's head. 750,000 people in South Carolina are with out insurance and this is the best you can do? Just who do you represent Mr. DeMint?

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Senator Demint releases statement on President Obama’s speech

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