Monday, February 24, 2014

Weekly Republican Address Tom Cotton 02/22/14 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT VIDEO

Republican National Convention Blog. 02/22/14 FULL VIDEO

In the Weekly Republican Address, Rep. Tom Cotton says Obamacare has been a catastrophe for many of his Arkansas constituents, pointing to the case of one woman who's seen her premiums rise 85 percent because of the health law's new coverage mandates.

"She's now forced to pay for things she does not want and can't afford, simply because Washington politicians and bureaucrats think they know what's best for her and her family," Cotton says. Even after two raises and a promotion, the woman takes home less total pay than she did in 2011.

"She's stopped shopping at locally owned businesses because she can't afford their prices, so Obamacare is hurting her local community, too," Cotton says.


FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT:

“Hi, I’m Tom Cotton. I’m proud to represent the people of Arkansas in Congress. I’m a sixth-generation Arkansan myself, from Yell County, near Dardanelle. Arkansans are good, hard-working people. And they’re tough. Around my parts, people sometimes say we have true grit.

“Arkansans, like most Americans, have had their grit tested over the last several years through a financial collapse, recession, and a stagnant, jobless recovery. Barack Obama’s policies aren’t solving these problems – they’re causing the problem.

Tom Cotton“President Obama’s policies spend too much money – they’ve irresponsibly added trillions of dollars to our national debt. The debt slows economic growth today and it places an immoral burden on our kids and grandkids. And the President’s policies concentrate too much power in Washington – they give more control to bossy bureaucrats, who want to run your lives, while handing out special favors and privileges to the elite and well-connected.

“There’s no better example of these failed policies than President Obama’s namesake legislation, Obamacare. This law promised to make things better – to lower costs for consumers and improve the quality of care – all the while cutting healthcare spending and saving the federal government money.

“We now know the sad reality of Obamacare: lose your insurance, lose your doctor, lose your job.

“President Obama promised you could keep your plan if you like it. That’s not true. Five million Americans face cancellations, and the President’s own estimates predict that tens of millions more will lose their plan. Many more are losing access to their family doctors, specialists, and local hospitals. And the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projects Obamacare will cost the equivalent of at least two-and-a-half million full-time jobs.

“What do we get for all this pain? Obamacare will add trillions in new spending at a time of record debt. It will mean less money in workers’ paychecks or less capital for businesses to expand and grow. Less growth means less opportunity and more stress for families. And the Congressional Budget Office says we’ll still have thirty-one million uninsured in ten years – the same number President Obama used to sell the law in the first place.

“The impact of these policies is real and I’ve met people across the state with stories that show how misguided Obamacare is.

“Elizabeth, from Pulaski County, Arkansas knows this all too well. Elizabeth gets insurance through her employer, but her monthly premiums have risen eighty-five percent because of Obamacare’s new coverage mandates. She’s now forced to pay for things she does not want and can’t afford, simply because Washington politicians and bureaucrats think they know what’s best for her and her family.

“What’s worse, Obamacare isn’t just raising her premium costs. Elizabeth now takes home less total pay than she did in 2011 – and that’s after two raises and a promotion. She’s stopped shopping at locally owned businesses because she can’t afford their prices, so Obamacare is hurting her local community, too.

“For Elizabeth – and countless other Arkansans just like her – Obamacare is anything but an amazing success story. Her story shows us that this law and the President’s policies are fundamentally flawed. They’re wrong for Arkansas, and they’re wrong for America. And as a result, too many Arkansans, like people across the country, are still out of work – five years into President Obama’s economic ‘recovery.’

“Republicans in Congress are committed to stopping the harms caused by the President’s policies, repairing the damage, and getting America working again. We’re advocating reforms that trust patients and their doctors – not Washington bureaucrats. And we’re working to get spending under control. That’s because we trust you to make the right decisions for you and your family.

“Thank you for listening and have a great weekend.”

Category: News & Politics. License: Standard YouTube License.

Monday, February 17, 2014

Weekly Republican Address Tom Rooney 02/14/14 FULL PODCAST TEXT TRANSCRIPT VIDEO

Weekly Republican Address Tom Rooney 02/14/14 FULL PODCAST TEXT TRANSCRIPT VIDEO

WASHINGTON, DC – In this week’s Republican address, Rep. Tom Rooney (R-FL) shares stories from seniors in his district who, because of the new health care law, have already lost access to the doctors and plans they like – something the president repeatedly promised would not happen. With this law continuing to wipe out options for seniors, Rooney joins House Republican leaders in urging the president to address these problems before it is too late,

The full audio of the address is here. Download MP3 for PODCAST


FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT: Remarks of Representative Tom Rooney (R-FL) Weekly Republican Address The Capitol February 15, 2014 Good morning.

My name is Tom Rooney, and here in the House, I represent Florida's 17th District.

Tom RooneyFew promises are more sacred than the ones we make to older Americans.

Protecting the dignity and the security our seniors have earned is a commitment that spans generations and party lines.

For example, during President Obama's health care speech to Congress in the fall of 2009, he took a moment to speak directly to older Americans.

“These steps.” he said, “will ensure that you – America’s seniors – get the benefits you've been promised.”

Then, during a telephone town hall with seniors from around the country, he said he wanted to respond to what he called “hysterical claims” about his plan.

“Here’s the truth," he said, “if you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor.”

That is the promise he made – several times.

But here's the reality.

To help pay for his health care law, the president made deep cuts to the successful Medicare Advantage program, which serves nearly 30 percent of all Medicare beneficiaries. This includes seniors with low incomes, patients with chronic conditions, and Americans in rural areas.

It’s a win-win program that gives seniors more control over their care and delivers better value for both them and the taxpayer.

But now, because of the president’s health care law, I'm hearing from seniors in my district who have already lost their doctors.

Constituents tell me they can no longer see the primary care physicians they have been going to for ten and even twenty years.

One woman told me that four of her specialists have already been dropped from her plan.

Another shared with me the story of how her husband lost access to the cardiologist he’s been seeing since his heart surgery five years ago.

In Florida’s heartland, seniors are now forced to drive an hour or more just to see a primary care doctor, let alone a specialist.

And across the country, millions of seniors are now paying more money for fewer choices, less access and far less peace of mind.

This goes well beyond a glitch or a pocketbook issue.

This is a breach of faith.

The president’s promises have proven false for working families, and now they are proving false for our seniors as well.

That is why, on Thursday, Republican leaders sent a letter to the president warning that unless something is done, his health care law will continue to wipe out options for seniors.

After all the assurances he gave older Americans, shouldn’t the president develop a plan to address the problems his law is causing them?

That’s what our letter asks him to do.

But better yet, members of both parties should listen closely to the stories like the ones I have shared.

I'm sure they sound a lot like what they're hearing back in their own districts.

Let's work together to repeal this law so we can focus on better solutions that lower costs for all Americans, especially our parents and grandparents.

We pledge to do our part, and now we ask the president to do his.

Thank you for listening.

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