With the passing of Sen. Edward Kennedy, there is little doubt that Democrats will proceed forward with an even greater desire to pass Healthcare Legislation immediately. As a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 3rd District of Florida, I am concerned that there is now a new reason to press forward with H.R. 3200 or any of the proposals from the Senate. Sen. Kennedy’s death will be nothing but a mere distraction from the real, honest debate; reform that works for all American’s. There is little doubt that House and Senate Democrats will attempt to use his death as a means to use healthcare reform, with a public “option” as an honorarium to his legacy.

Republicans need to resolve to not be left out of this debate and return to their roots of Conservative principles-smaller government, less spending, and lower taxes. Otherwise, the people of our country will see a Government option that will cost countless millions of Americans loss of their present coverage, potentially loss of their jobs, and have nothing left as a choice but the government program- and most likely at taxpayer’s expense for their coverage. Our seniors will find that their Medicare will be cut even further and the real prospect of rationing is likely.

Cost estimates for this legislation by the OBM has been anywhere from $1 trillion upwards of $1.6 trillion over a 10 year period. Currently we are experiencing a $1.9 trillion annual deficit and the national debt at nearly $12 trillion and rising. Adding this additional expenditure to our budget will further drive the debt upward and leave the “government option” with no choice but to cut benefits and raise taxes to pay for this plan. Neither is acceptable to most of the American people and fails to meet the President’s goal of “reducing costs”.

There is no question that the average American agrees there needs to be some “health care reform” in order to make the costs of our system more affordable. These need to focus on 3 basic areas to accomplish that goal:

1. Tort Reform. This one aspect alone has the potential to reduce costs by 20%.
2. Health Savings Accounts- available to all and not dependent on an Employer sponsored program to participate along with the tax savings benefits.
3. Eliminate the “state line” aspect of Health Insurance purchases. Anyone can shop in any state for the best plan that is affordable. This brings competition into play much better.

There are other areas of real reform as well, but these 3 aspects alone will reduce healthcare costs by no less than 25-30%. I can totally agree with the President that we must determine to reduce the costs or the system becomes unsustainable. However, as a Conservative, expansion of more government into our lives and our pocketbooks is not the answer when the alternatives above will accomplish the same goal without another $1 trillion dollars of spending. Republicans need to press forward with these 3 objectives and use every legislative means necessary to frame the debate away from a public option that will fail to meet the Presidents goals. To allow Democrats to “leave a legacy” to Sen. Kennedy with a very bad bill is not going to resolve the healthcare costs, but only be self-serving in avoiding real debate.

I believe most Americans are scared- of the massive debt being piled on our children, the policies of Washington that will further make even more people dependent on government, and a tax structure that punishes our wallets and our business and industry. Unless “WE THE PEOPLE” stand for making government work for ALL people and return to our Constitutional Foundation, we may wake up in a couple of years to no country at all. I asked myself “who will stand up for US?”, and I didn’t see any prospects who understood what it was like to live, work, and survive in this economic situation.

I am running for Congress to bring Common Sense and real solutions that will work as they do in our everyday lives. We MUST bring government spending under control and not continue to expand the role of government, much less take on another $1- 1.6 TRILLION of new spending for healthcare “reform” that is not reform, but another government program on the backs of working people.

The strength of our nation lies NOT in our government, but in the resourcefulness of its people. Americans are just that- the most resourceful on earth. Let’s get government out of our way and WE THE PEOPLE can solve our own problems. It is time for us to take a stand and “Let’s Take it Back…” in 2010. Let’s bring Conservative principles BACK to the Republican Party and with a new leadership that will work for ALL Americans.