Contact: Stephanie Valle 202-225-2931

Washington, Oct 29 - Congressman Phil Gingrey released the following statement today after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democrat leaders unveiled their latest plan for a government takeover of health care that will raise taxes, increase our national debt, and put government bureaucrats between patients and their doctors:

“The Democrats have tried to make health care reform the seminal issue of this Congress.  I agree that it is imperative to reform our health care system in this country to provide every American citizen the ability to access quality, affordable health care.

“I have spent the last 10 months trying to share my perspective, as a physician with over 30 years of experience, with my Democratic counterparts.  My constituents and millions of Americans across the country have also spent the last 10 months trying to make their voices heard by the President and the Democratic Majority.  Today proved that the Democrats just don’t care what practicing physicians — and the American public — think.

“The bill they unveiled today was drafted behind closed doors by Nancy Pelosi and her liberal allies.  A fancy press conference on the Capitol steps and a new bill name and number doesn’t hide what this is: a government takeover of our nation’s health care system.  This is the absolute wrong direction for America and a death knell for quality care for American patients.”