U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., expressed concerns during a meeting Tuesday in Statesboro about the nation’s proposed health-care bill. At Forest Heights Country Club, Isakson spoke against the proposed “dramatic change in health care,” saying the bill favored by President Barack Obama is designed “to drive everybody to a government option” when it comes to health care.
The national debt will explode to $1.3 trillion, “and that’s a lot of money,” he said. “How are we going to pay?” Medicare requirements will go from “100 percent poverty to 150 percent poverty” and the burden of debt will be transferred from federal to state governments.
The proposed health-care bill will result in “substantial lessening of the quality and accessibility of Medicare,” he said. And in the end, small businesses will be unfairly taxed — possibly up to over half of their income — to offset the costs of health-care plans as proposed by bill authors, Isakson said.
Should the bill pass, Medicare costs would increase from 12 percent of the state’s budget to 20 percent, he said.
“I’m not too disposed to vote in favor of the health-care bill,” Isakson said.
He suggested offering rewards to consumers in the form of discounts to those who followed better health guidelines, such as not smoking, keeping blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol low.
The senator spoke about the recession, and said he has lived through several recessions in the past. However, this one is different, he said.
“It’s going to be a long time out,” he said. “There’s going to be a new normal.” Isakson predicted people will be more responsible with money. “We’ve got to return to financial discipline as individuals, but so does the United States government.”
The country should follow Georgia’s example, he said, such as having furloughs and budget cuts.
He told the group he has a simple method of deciding on how to vote on issues.
“I’m going to think, is it good for little Hunter, my 4-day-old grandson? If it is, I’ll vote for it.”
The national debt will explode to $1.3 trillion, “and that’s a lot of money,” he said. “How are we going to pay?” Medicare requirements will go from “100 percent poverty to 150 percent poverty” and the burden of debt will be transferred from federal to state governments.
The proposed health-care bill will result in “substantial lessening of the quality and accessibility of Medicare,” he said. And in the end, small businesses will be unfairly taxed — possibly up to over half of their income — to offset the costs of health-care plans as proposed by bill authors, Isakson said.
Should the bill pass, Medicare costs would increase from 12 percent of the state’s budget to 20 percent, he said.
“I’m not too disposed to vote in favor of the health-care bill,” Isakson said.
He suggested offering rewards to consumers in the form of discounts to those who followed better health guidelines, such as not smoking, keeping blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol low.
The senator spoke about the recession, and said he has lived through several recessions in the past. However, this one is different, he said.
“It’s going to be a long time out,” he said. “There’s going to be a new normal.” Isakson predicted people will be more responsible with money. “We’ve got to return to financial discipline as individuals, but so does the United States government.”
The country should follow Georgia’s example, he said, such as having furloughs and budget cuts.
He told the group he has a simple method of deciding on how to vote on issues.
“I’m going to think, is it good for little Hunter, my 4-day-old grandson? If it is, I’ll vote for it.”