About the Health Care Mandate

Yet there are those in Washington and around the country, although having the health care for them and their families paid for by the people, they now tell us, this proposal is too big and too expensive and there should not be a “mandate” to force the people to buy insurance. The ones hollering the most are the ones who a few years ago supported with approval of the pharmaceutical companies a “mandate” on the prescription drug program.

Medicare has been in effect for over 70 years. It has and continues to be the most successful medical program for the people in this country. As we become eligible and sign on for it, we paid into the program, all our years of employment there was a sum taken from each paycheck, that could be looked at as a “mandate.” Then we retire and again a cost is taken from each paycheck. This year it is $99.60 per month that could be considered a “mandate.” That begins after each participant pays a yearly one-time deductible of about $150. Could that be considered a “mandate”?

I urge the people as they take the proposal for their consideration to think about the proposals already implemented, with approval ratings, from the low 70s to the high 80s.

When the present proposal was given to Congress, I watched on television. The speaker of the House, as he and a reporter walked down the hallway, he pulled his taxpayer-supported and paid for by the people his plastic card of his health care and stated this is not free for us. This cost me $125 per month. Maybe that is a “mandate.”

Mr. Speaker, I would be very content to have the medical coverage we the people supply you and all legislators. I am sure as you considered your proposal it is by far the best.