Sam Johnson believes that Members of Congress who vote for a public, government-run health plan should be the first to enroll
Backs legislation to hold Members accountable

July 15, 2009

Today U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (3rd Dist.-Texas) insisted that Members of Congress who vote for a government-run health plan for the American public should be the first to enroll. A pending health reform proposal has a special carve out for Members of Congress exempting them from mandatory participation in the public health care plan if it becomes law.

“Members of Congress should stop asking the American people to make sacrifices they are not willing to make themselves,” said Johnson.

This morning Johnson took to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to tout his support of legislation that calls on Members of Congress who vote in favor of a government-run health plan to enroll in that plan. Johnson’s remarks on the floor follow below.

Johnson supports improving access to health insurance for all Americans but fears that the House Democrat plan will put bureaucrats between patients and doctors and ration care like in Canada and Europe. In addition, with an estimated price tag topping $1 trillion, and reports that the costly health plan still leaves 17 million Americans without health insurance, Johnson feels there are better, less expensive ways to make health insurance more affordable, accessible and available. Johnson believes that the problem isn’t that Americans currently don’t spend enough on health care; it’s that money is being spent inefficiently.

Johnson represents portions of Dallas and Collin Counties.

Remarks by Congressman Sam Johnson:

“As we debate the best way to reform our health care system and ensure that all Americans have access to quality health care, some in Congress insist that a government-run public option must be included.” Yet in one proposal, Members of Congress are curiously exempt from participation in the public plan.

“For those who are convinced that government run health care won’t sacrifice quality and won’t lead to rationing, I back a resolution saying that if a Member of Congress votes to support the government-run option, then the Member must be automatically enrolled in it.

“If Members of Congress are convinced that the government-run option will deliver the same quality of care as their Congressional health plans, then they should be the first in line to enroll.

“Members of Congress should stop asking the American people to make sacrifices they are not willing to make themselves.”

# # #