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Montana’s U.S. Delegation Responds to Obama’s Health Care Speech

By Beacon Staff

The following are prepared statements from Republican Congressman Denny Rehberg and Democratic Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester:

Baucus: “I’ve been working on health care reform for more than two years and I can see the finish line – but there is a lot of work to do before we get there. I was pleased to hear the president recommit to getting meaningful health care reform passed this year. He understands that health care reform can’t wait any longer. He’s right. Costs are out of control and Americans are paying the price. The next few days and weeks are critical to our effort to deliver real reform to reduce health care costs and ensure quality, affordable care.”

Tester: “The President moved the ball a little closer to the end zone, but we still have a lot of game left before we fix the broken status quo so that Montana’s working families and small businesses can afford quality health care. Having gone without health insurance ourselves during lean years on our family farm, Sharla and I know firsthand the need to improve affordable access to health care, especially in rural America. Now as Congress moves forward, we need to have a debate based on facts and common sense.

Rehberg: “August showed in dramatic fashion that that the debate in Washington can be very different from what is going on back home. Through sixteen listening sessions across the state, Montanans told me that while our health care system needs reform, especially when it comes to accessibility and affordability a government takeover is not the answer. That’s why I’ve brought workable alternatives to the table: lawsuit reform, preventative care and insurance pooling for small business must be a part of any effective reform. Congress owes it to the American public to adjourn for 30 days before adopting any healthcare reform so we can once again listen to what they think before rushing head-long into a vote. Montanans won’t remember how fast we fixed this problem, but they will remember how well we fixed it.”