Johnny Isakson's Position Statement on Health Care
As a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, as well as a former small business owner, I recognize the frustrations many Americans have with the current cost and delivery of health care. I am particularly sensitive to the struggles hard-working Americans face when trying to gain access to adequate and affordable health care.
Health Care Reform
***Please click here to view the Senate health care bill in its entirety.***
I have always believed in looking for solutions for ways to provide access to affordable health care to individuals who lack access to health insurance through an employer.
However, I voted against the deeply flawed, unpopular health care reform bill known as Obamacare that was passed by the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives and signed by President Obama on March 30, 2010.
The thousands of Georgians I have heard from on this issue are very leery of being pushed into a government-run system that will have to be paid for with higher taxes. I voted against this bill because I could not be a part of driving Americans to a government-run health care system that we can’t afford.
I am working with my Republican colleagues in the Senate to repeal and replace this health care law, which will raise taxes, raise premiums, cut benefits for seniors and place a massive unfunded mandates on the states. In addition, I support the efforts of the state attorneys general who are suing the federal government over the constitutionality of the new federal mandate requiring all individuals to buy insurance policies.
I believe there could be some common ground between Republicans and Democrats on health care in terms of insurance portability and not being rejected for pre-existing conditions or cancelled if you have a disease. However, I firmly believe the best way to reach these goals is through choice and competition in the private sector.
I believe the key to health care reform is stimulating competition in a market-based system that will encourage private health insurers and managed care providers to compete for business and make health insurance more affordable for consumers. I also believe Congress should look carefully into proposals that will increase coverage of preventative and wellness care, which will help control the cost of managing chronic diseases and drive down the cost of treating largely preventable conditions.
I co-sponsored a Republican alternative, S.1099, Patients’ Choice Act of 2009, which sought to strengthen the relationship between the patient and the doctor by using choice and competition, rather than rationing and restrictions, to contain costs and ensure affordable health care for all Americans.
