Graves' Statement Regarding the Passage of the Health Care Bill

(RANGER, GA) – State Rep. Tom Graves (R-Ranger), the leading conservative candidate for Congress in Georgia’s 9th District, released the following statement after House Democrats passed their government plan to takeover of America’s health delivery system:

“Today, President Obama, Speaker Pelosi and Democrats in Congress advanced their massive government takeover of our nation’s health care system.  It’s clear, the bill is too expensive, raises taxes, kills jobs, saddles the country with new debt, and forces new government mandates on the states and small businesses.  While reforms are needed, they should be centered on free markets and capitalism.  Georgia’s 9th District has said loud and clear that they are opposed to a government-run health care system.  When elected, I will work to repeal this bill and replace it with free-market solutions to make health care more affordable, portable and accessible.

In just the last 13 months, we have seen government intervention in the financial, automobile and now the healthcare sectors.  What will be next?

This is no time to lose hope.  Let us be reminded that we live in the greatest republic on earth.  One in which the people will have the final say.  It is because of this, that I am optimistic about our future and confident that the American people will change the faces of the U.S. Congress this fall.”

Tonight’s vote in the U.S. House of Representatives was 219-212.

Graves released his Patient-Centered Patient-Driven health reform principles last year in a video to voters and in an opinion editorial.