HEALTH CARE

We need health care reform in America. However, I strongly oppose both the House's 1,990 page and the Senate's 2,074 page government takeover of America's healthcare system. Both ideas amount to a government-centered approach that will create over 70 new government agencies, costing trillions of dollars and putting government bureaucrats between patients and their doctors.

• Instead, we should adopt a common sense, patient-centered approach that includes the following:

• Encourage small business health care plans and allow small businesses to form co-ops in order to increase their purchasing power and reduce their costs.

• Allow Americans to buy health insurance plans across state lines, the same way we purchase car and life insurance.

• Encourage Health Savings Accounts.

• Tort reform to end costly litigation that leads to defensive medicine and rising malpractice costs.

• Promote healthier lifestyles. Promote wellness and prevention by incentivizing healthy lifestyle choices.