Madame Speaker, Let Every Member Stand and Be Counted

We were elected to make tough choices, not run from them. On Thursday, House Democrats sparked widespread outrage by voting to authorize the use of the controversial “Slaughter Solution” to force amassive government takeover of health care through the House without voting on it. They voted to protect themselves instead of their constituents, who are fed up with the lack of accountability and transparency in Washington. But there is no hiding from this vote.

That’s one reason why I sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) requesting that she hold a special “call of the roll” for the final health care vote this weekend. Under this procedure, each lawmaker will be required to stand up and declare how he or she is voting on this bill. This weekend’s votes will be among the most consequential votes we will ever cast as Members of Congress. I believe the stakes are too high, and this bill too controversial, for anything less than complete transparency and accountability. It’s time to stand up and be counted. I discuss the letter and the vote this weekend in the weekly GOP address you can view here:

Democratic leaders keep telling their Members that once this bill passes, it will be more popular. They’re dead wrong. Seniors will be furious about the Medicare cuts. Small businesses will be furious about thejob-killing new taxes and mandates. Veterans will be furious that it doesn’t protect Tricare. And EVERYONE will be furious about the army of new IRS agents.

That’s why the only responsible course of action is to scrap this health care bill. Let’s start over with a clean sheet of paper.

Let’s work together on a step-by-step approach focused on lowering costs for families and small businesses. We know this vote is going to be tight. That’s why it’s important for the American people to stay engaged in this fight. Republicans can’t beat this bill, but the American people can. It’s not too late to make your voice heard.