Rep. John Kline (R-MN), the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee’s Senior Republican, responded this evening to President Obama’s address to a joint session of Congress on health care reform. Kline, whose panel is one of three House committees with jurisdiction over health care legislation, issued the following statement:
“The President’s outreach to Congress and the American people is welcome, but a speech alone will not cure the ailing health care reform process. The public outcry that reached a crescendo this summer will not be quelled until Democrats in Washington finally press the reset button on health care reform and abandon the secretive, partisan process that has characterized their efforts thus far.
“Rather than applying a new coat of varnish to the same flawed ideas that have been rejected by the American people, Democrats should focus on commonsense solutions that can be implemented quickly, with bipartisan support. Republicans are ready and willing to reach across the aisle to develop meaningful health care reforms that will drive down costs without sacrificing quality - and expand coverage without orchestrating a government takeover."
