Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

By Michael Combier-Talk Radio News Service

House Democrats want to dramatically reduce the costs of health care by establishing competition in the market place between private and public insurers while expanding coverage across the United States.

A full committee of the House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing Tuesday to discuss "The House Tri-Committee Draft for Health Care Reform," an 800 page document which was released on Friday.

"No one can argue that our nation's current health care path is sustainable...The one thing that is 'off the table' is saying 'No' to health care reform," said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), Chair of the Committee.

By opening areas in the U.S. to new competition, Democrats argue it will result in more transparency, and will make health care in general more affordable.

U.S. Rep. Robert E. Andrews (D-N.J.) said "there is insufficient competition" in the current health care system. With better competition, the consumer will receive "higher quality, more choice and lower costs," added Andrews.

Under the proposed reform, private insurance plans will compete with non-profit public competitors.

Republican members of the Committee complained about the fast pace taken by Democrats to pass the reform, and expressed concerns over a health care system administered by the federal government.

Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), said "there have been no greater negative impact than the intrusion of the federal government into health care," referring to Medicare and Medicaid, programs that were put in place by President Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1960’s.