Shelley Moore Capito - Congresswoman

Capito Says Pelosi’s Trillion Dollar Health Bill is Wrong Solution for West Virginia

Congresswoman Sponsors Alternative Plan

October 29, 2009

WASHINGTON - Today Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., joined a group of her congressional colleagues in sponsoring alternative legislation to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's, D-Cal., newly announced health care bill. 

Capito will co-sponsor the Medical Rights and Reform Act of 2009 which creates an inter-state market for health insurance, allows young adults to access their parent's insurance, and encourages enhanced attention to wellness initiatives.  The bill also includes meaningful tort reform and ensures that no federal bureaucrat can come between a patient and their doctor.

"I've continued to say that West Virginians deserve true bipartisan reforms that improve access to care and provide assistance for those truly in need," the congresswoman said. 

"Our bill takes a responsible step in that direction and I'm proud to join my colleagues in offering a common sense plan that improves our health care system without breaking the bank of American taxpayers."  

Regarding today's announcement from Speaker Pelosi, Capito says West Virginians deserve better than the Majority's 1,990 page, trillion dollar bill.

"The Speaker's bill will cost taxpayers nearly a trillion dollars, will hike taxes on small businesses and rely on nearly $500 billion in cuts Medicare to finance further government intrusion into our health care system," said Capito. 

"It's bad enough that we're talking about an official $900 billion price tag, but it simply defies logic to expect the American people to believe that the cost won't balloon beyond the trillion dollar mark," the congresswoman added, noting the Speaker's omission of well-known expenses like the doctor payment fix. 

*** Below please find a photo of the congresswoman with the Speaker's recently announced health care bill.  You can also access the full text of the bill by accessing the PDF below. ***

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