Roskam On White House Health Summit and Democrats’ Overhaul

“The public understands what’s in this bill and they’ve rejected it … the premise yesterday was ‘what’s it going to take for Republicans to vote for this bill that Americans don’t like,’ and we’ve said, ‘let’s start over and start with a clean sheet of paper.’”
Congressman Peter Roskam (R, Ill.)

On FOX News today with Jane Skinnard Peter Roskam said that Americans and Republicans remained firmly opposed to Democrats’ massive health care takeover plans, instead urging an incremental approach that focuses on costs as a way to expand coverage. Roskam participated in President Obama’s Blair House Health Summit yesterday and felt that Speaker Pelosi, Senator Reid and the President were not willing to negotiate honestly with the GOP.

On Yesterday’s Summit:

“I think that the approach yesterday was essentially a six hour seminar or infomercial and the premise was … if only he [Obama] can talk more about his bill than the American people will sign up for it and have this ah-hah moment. But I don’t think what he realizes is that he is a skilled communicator, he has communicated through joint session speeches, and town hall meetings and even Superbowl preludes. The public understands what’s in this bill and they’ve rejected it … the premise yesterday was what’s it going to take for republicans to vote for this bill that Americans don’t like, and we’ve said, ‘let’s start over and start with a clean sheet of paper.’”

Americans’ Have “Clearly Spoken” About the Democrats’ Bill:

“The American people have clearly spoken over these past several months, they’ve spoken to me and many others in our districts. They’ve spoken in the elections in New Jersey and Virginia and Massachusetts. They do not want this bill. They were hopeful at the beginning, I gave the president credit. I said, ‘look it was more than a bumper sticker when you started talking about this.’ But the more people have listened, the more they have just shied away from this massive government takeover of healthcare. And the notion of taking on a sixth of the economy in the twinkling of an eye, is something that the general public has said ‘we don’t want to see. We want incremental reforms where Republicans and Democrats come together. Pass one bill at a time, and break this thing down.’ But it doesn’t have to be this big monster bill.”

“And what I’m hearing, and I think, overwhelmingly, Members of Congress are hearing, is that the public is actually not just disappointed and not just discouraged, but they’re actually fearful of what they think may come as a result of this bill.”

The Only Thing Bipartisan is Bipartisan Opposition:

“My district is saying ‘stand up against this onslaught of massive spending and massive government takeover,’ and I think there is a real sense of clarity. Look, the only thing that there is bipartisan related to this bill, is bipartisan opposition. Republicans are opposed to it on principle – many Democrats are opposed to it. The public entrusted this majority with a supermajority in both chambers. Remember, they got Al Franken, they got everything they need, but within their own party they can’t come up with a program….

Bipartisanship is Not: “You’re either on the bus or you’re under the bus”:

“Unfortunately, the President has made a decision, rather than fully engaging the minority party and saying ‘where are these common areas that we can work together?’ Instead, he’s saying, ‘essentially look, you’re either on the bus or you’re under the bus,’ and I think that’s an unfortunate approach.”


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