BARRETT: ‘DOC FIX' WILL CREATE ADDITIONAL BURDENS FOR TAXPAYERS

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congressman J. Gresham Barrett (SC, 03) voted against H.R. 3961, the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009, which passed by a narrow margin in the House of Representatives. The Congressman has released the following statement:

“I voted against H.R. 3961 because it is financially irresponsible and will ultimately create additional burdens for taxpayers. Not only does this legislation cost 210 billion dollars over a 10 year period, but Speaker Pelosi has not offered any plan to pay for it.

“Instead, a budget gimmick has been put into effect. While PAYGO has been included in H.R. 3961, this measure exempts all Medicare physician payments. This action will add billions of dollars to the national deficit while raising health care costs and creating higher premiums for seniors.

“If the Democrat majority truly wanted to ensure that seniors have proper access to health care, they would have found a way to properly pay for the ‘doc fix’ legislation.”

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