Nathan Deal

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, it has been said that the problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.

Despite billions of dollars in new taxes, despite billions of dollars in cuts to Medicare, and despite deceptive accounting practices to hide the true cost of this bill, it appears that we have run out of what money is here in Washington, because we are seeking to impose unprecedented and unconstitutional mandates on our States.

Tonight, as I cast what might be the last votes of my congressional career, I am pleased to say that as I pursue my full-time activity to become the governor of the great State of Georgia, that I will cast my vote in opposition to this bill.

If this bill becomes law and I am successful in my undertakings, I will devote my efforts to making sure that the people of my State are not subjected to the unconstitutional individual mandate and that my State is not subject to the unconstitutional mandate to expand our Medicaid rolls. I know that I am not alone. Yesterday, 38 States indicated that they would join in suing to challenge the constitutionality of this statute.

I urge my colleagues to join me on a ``no'' vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this bill, and I express three major concerns.

First of all, I raise a question. The question is: what authority in the United States Constitution gives this Congress the right to mandate that every citizen must purchase a health insurance policy, and upon failing to do so, shall be fined and possibly imprisoned? I think the answer to that question is, there is no such congressional authority.

Secondly, make no mistake about it, illegal aliens will receive government-funded health care under this because all they are required to show is a Social Security number and a name. There is no way to prevent the same Social Security number from being used by numerous individuals, and there is no requirement that a picture ID be produced in order to prove that the person is in fact the name that appears on the Social Security card. If you think identity theft is a problem now, just wait until this bill passes.

Thirdly, this bill requires States to increase their Medicaid rolls to 150 percent of the Federal poverty level. In an ever-increasing fashion, States will have to absorb the cost of this burden. I offered an amendment which would have allowed States to opt out from under this mandate, but it has been rejected. In States like mine, where we have to balance our budget, right now schoolteachers and law enforcement officers are having to take unfunded furlough days. If this bill passes, it will get even worse. We should not be passing a bill that takes days and money out of the paychecks of teachers and law enforcement officers to pay for this piece of legislation.

Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to remove my name as a cosponsor of H. Res. 704.