Dean: Congress Should Join Government-Run Health Plan

July 21, 2009

Congressman Heller introduced legislation last week requiring members of Congress to join any government-run health care plan created by Congress:

Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev., told colleagues Thursday that members of Congress should be required to join any federal public health benefits plan created by Congress.

"I do not believe the federal government should be running health care in our country and levying massive tax increases on America’s small businesses," said Heller in urging support for an amendment to the proposed plan. "However, if this administration and the majority party are going to force government-run health care on the American people, then members of Congress should be required to enroll in that plan.

"If the government-run ‘public plan’ is good enough for millions of our constituents, then it should be good enough for members of Congress," he said.

Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee rejected Dean’s amendment to their health care bill.