Heller says Congress should join any federal health plan

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.

He asked the committee reviewing the America's Affordable Health Choices Act to adopt the amendment requiring Congress to participate in the plan. The amendment, however, was rejected by the committee 21-18.

The legislation would create a government-run health insurance plan. Heller said independent estimates place the bill's cost to American taxpayers as high as

$1.5 trillion.

He said he believes the legislation could result in 114 million Americans losing their current health insurance coverage.