Perdue Must Call on Congressional Delegation To Reject Health Care Takeover

Raleigh, N.C. – National Democrats are poised to implement a $871 billion dollar government takeover of the health care industry after holding a key Senate vote this past weekend in the dead of night and the middle of a snowstorm.  A final Senate vote on sweeping health care legislation is now set for Christmas Eve.
 
North Carolina taxpayers and state officials should insist that North Carolina’s Congressional Delegation vigorously oppose the Senate bill if only because the legislation substantially increases mandatory spending by state government through expanded Medicaid eligibility.  A recent study from the Heritage Foundation estimated that North Carolina’s Medicaid population will increase by more than 44 percent with corresponding growth in the state’s obligation to pay for Medicaid.  This additional burden on the state’s taxpayers comes at the same time North Carolina’s unemployment rate remains at historic high levels and state revenues continue to fall.  The bill has numerous other defects including how it provides for the federal government to usurp state authority to set rules and regulations for health insurance providers.   
 
Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) made the following statement:
 
“The Democrats’ proposed government takeover of health care could not come at a worse time.  With North Carolina’s workers facing record unemployment, this legislation is reckless and irresponsible.  It does nothing to address the growing cost of health care, makes it more expensive for employers to create jobs, raises insurance premiums for working families, further balloons the federal deficit, and will increase the already huge hole in North Carolina’s state budget.  The fiscally responsible thing for Governor Perdue to do is call on our state’s Congressional delegation to vote against this bill and avoid putting a further strain on North Carolina’s state budget.”

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