Jack Kingston / Serving the 1st District of Georgia

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WASHINGTON D.C. 20515

JACK KINGSTON
FIRST DISTRICT
GEORGIA

 

Dear Friend,

Over the years, healthcare spending in the U.S. has grown faster than the rate of inflation and now exceeds $2.4 trillion annually – nearly one-fifth (17%) of our nation’s economy.

We all agree that healthcare should be more affordable and accessible.  Disagreement comes, however, on how to achieve that goal.

From a government-run “public option” to a vast expansion of the already insolvent Medicare and Medicaid to cover all Americans, some believe that growing the government is the answer to our troubles.

I disagree.  Inserting bureaucrats between a doctor and his patient would only further drive up the cost of coverage and decrease quality.  Our office spends countless hours refereeing Medicare coverage disputes and billing errors.  It is very inefficient.

With respects to government run healthcare, the statistics are startling.  Breast cancer mortality is 52% higher in Germany and 88% higher in the United Kingdom than it is in the United States.  Prostate cancer mortality is 604% higher in Britain and 457% higher in Norway than it is in America.  Just across our northern border, Canadians have a 9% higher mortality rate for breast cancer and 184% higher for colon cancer.

Worst of all, massive government intervention would end the creativity which has been the hallmark of the American healthcare system.  Consider that during the years of socialized medicine in the Soviet Union, not a single new pharmaceutical or treatment method was developed.

While President Obama has set an August 1 deadline for Congress to act, I believe we must take time to fully examine all proposals.  Rushing through legislation that will impact every American and which could lead to a government-takeover of one-fifth of our economy could prove dangerous.

Back in January, President Obama said we must, “act quickly and boldly on the economy,” to stop the economic downturn.  At the time, unemployment was 8%; now it’s 9.5% with 1.5 million people out of work since the passage of his economic “stimulus” legislation.

Similarly, in September President Bush told the world that we must act on an “urgent timeline” to pass the Troubled Assets Relief Program.  Since then, stock portfolios are down more than 40% and at least 45 banks have failed.  Now the same “Washington-knows-best” wisdom is telling us to act quickly for healthcare reform.  Isn’t it about time to stop turning to Washington?

Consider two of our existing government-run healthcare programs, Medicare and Medicaid.  While these programs are known to be in danger, it takes an act of Congress to reform them.  In the last session of Congress, though, some 452 bills were offered by members of Congress to push for much-needed reforms.  Of those, only 12 became law – not a great track record in reforming government healthcare plans!

While I have grave concerns about a government takeover of our nation’s healthcare, a bipartisan solution to healthcare reform is achievable and must be a primary concern of this Congress.  As we prepare for the debate, I need your input and hope you’ll take the time to complete my healthcare survey.  To do so, click here.

To learn more about the healthcare debate, click here or direct your browser to http://kingston.house.gov/healthcare.

Thank you for your time – I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

Jack Kingston
Member of Congress

P.S. Please consider forwarding this email to a friend.  If we’re going to get the debate moving, we’ve got to take the time to inform as many people as possible.

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