Published: November 05, 2009 08:49 pm      

Congressman speaks out against H.R. 3962

District 5 U.S. Congressman Jeb Hensarling — along with other members of the Republican Party — are speaking out against H.R. 3962 - Affordable Health Care for America Act using the world wide web.

The GOP held an online town hall meeting “Pelosi Plan Exposed: 12 Truths about PelosiCare and Republican Alternatives,” on Thursday. The event streamed at http://gop.com/12truths from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. Hensarling was featured during the Spending/Your Money topic beginning at 2 p.m.

“It is terribly important that people are aware of what is going on,” he said. “This is a way we can communicate to our constituents about the danger of the Pelosi bill.”

Hensarling said during his appearance that the bill will make it more difficult for people to find a job by increasing payroll taxes.

He also said the 1,990-page bill is an insult to the American people.

“There is no way we can pay for this bill,” Hensarling said. “We are already borrowing 49 cents on the dollar, mostly from the Chinese, and sending the bill to our children.”

He said the House leadership is going to limit the floor debate to three hours.

“Congress can take an hour to debate changing the name of a rural post office,” Hensarling said. “Now we are going to be limited to three hours to debate this monstrosity.”

He said the bill is one of the most important pieces of legislation to be considered since he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. The vote is scheduled for Saturday.

“I believe every Republican will vote against it,” Hensarling said. “It really depends on the so-call moderate Democrats.”

He said House GOP's alternative health care bill — a proposed amendment to H.R. 3962 — is designed to lower health insurance premiums and the national deficit.

“The fiscal health and the physical health of our country hangs in the balance,” Hensarling said. “Their bill cannot be afforded.”