BOND:Republican Response to Clinton Radio Address

[Gary V. Cavano]

U.S. Senator Christopher S. Bond (R-Missouri) gave the
Republican response to President Clinton's national radio
address of September 25, 1993 focusing on health care reform.
Here is the text of his remarks:

This week President Clinton challenged Americans to reform
health care and to have the courage to change. The President is
right to focus on this problem.

We agree that the time has come for health care reform. It will
be a major undertaking, affecting one-seventh of our national
economy. It would change life for every American. The doctors
Americans see, the health coverage we have and the quality of
care our children receive could all be radically changed.

With that much at stake, a little plain talk would be helpful as
Americans sort through the confusion.

Simply put -- President Clinton has proposed the biggest social
experiment our government has ever attempted. Some of his plan,
Republicans agree with. Some of it, we do not.

But, we do want to work on a bipartisan basis in Congress to do
the job right. We should focus squarely on two problems:
controlling health costs and securing universal health coverage
for every American.

To do that, Republicans put forward our own proposals last week.
Our plan protects every Amewrican with a basic insurance policy
that cannot be cancelled, if a person changes jobs, moves, or
becomes sick. It would guarantee universal health coverage and
secure basic health benefits for every American.

Low-income families and individuals would receive health
vouchers with the power to choose and purchase their own health
insurance and self-employed people like farmers could deduct
100% of their family's insurance premiums. We want to give
every American the security of knowing that they and their
family have health coverage -- and that it will be there for
them when they need it.

Second, our plan would target the rising health costs that are
eating away at family incomes. Our reform plan would give
individuals, families, and small businesses the strength of
group purchasing. Private purchasing groups would help pool
their purchasing power and negotiate lower prices for health
insurance. Aggressive competition in the private sector can
control rising health costs.

We strongly believe that families and individuals, not
government, should make the personal decisions about their care,
including their choice of doctors and insurance plans. Except
now, health plans would have to compete on the basis of price
and quality to win your business.

If you want to learn more about our plan, call or write me, Kit
Bond, in the U.S. Senate. The number is (202) 224-5721.

The President's plan includes much of what we propose, but there
are important differences.

First, President Clinton would mandate that every employer pay
80% of their employees' health insurance costs. This sounds
good at first. But as small employers struggle to pay costly
new health bills, they may go out of business or lay off
employees, it will mean people will lose their jobs and suffer
cuts in wages and benefits. A plan that promises you health
coverage, but actually costs you your job is not reform.
Republicans believe that health reform should cut costs, not
jobs.

President Clinton would also require people to buy health
insurance through government-run health agencies. When you buy
your insurance, change your policy or send in your health bills,
you would be forced to deal with a government-run health agency.
It would determine which insurance policies you are offered and
what health plan you can get. Americans could count on more
waste, more bureaucracy and higher costs.

This health debate will affect you and everyone you know. As
President Clinton challenges Americans to change, so should
Americans challenge people in Washington to change. Too often
government tries to do too much, too quickly at too great a cost
to taxpayers. This time the President and Congress should not
make promises that we cannot keep and pay for.

Our plan would guarantee universal health coverage and cut
rising health expenses, but at a third of the cost of the
President's plan. Why? Because his plan contains hundreds of
billions of dollars in new expensive benefits -- like the 100 to
300 billion dollar windfall for big corporations. That's why
our plan costs half a trillion dollars less than his.

Republicans also believe that health reform should be financed
on a pay-as-you-go basis. That means the President and Congress
must have the money for new benefit programs _before_ they spend
it. Under this pay-as-you-go approach, there's no free lunch.
The bills must be paid and the uninsured covered first. Then
when costs are cut and budget savings made, we can afford to add
new benefits.

So as you listen to this health debate, remember to ask: How
will that be paid for? And who's paying the bill? Watch out
for promises that can't be kept or paid for. If it sounds too
good to be true, it probably is. We must insist on straight
talk and honest financing from Washington -- for a change.

After all, it's not the need for change that's being debated,
it's how best to make that change. We invite your comments.
Again, call or write me, Kit Bond, in the U.S. Senate at (202)
224-5721 to learn more about our health reform plan.