Sen. Bond says healthcare reform is needed, but the bills being debated in Washington are not the answer. He says he doesn’t support the healthcare legislation being debated in the House … and he says everyone needs more time to review the legislation.
Bond says Missourians, Americans and even reporters need more time to read through and interpret the various measures.
Bond, a Republican, says his party isn’t completely against healthcare reform, but want be a part of the process.
Keeping the current system in place but putting a stop to the cost escalation is what needs to be done, he says.
Bond says dealing with malpractice insurance and defensive medicine — when doctors order tests for no other reason then not to get sued later for negligence — would help save $120 billion a year, and he thinks everyone should get a tax deduction for buying healthcare insurance.
“More than 80 percent of Americans have their own healthcare and are happy with it,” he says. He supports equal access so small businesses and farmers can get the same rates as corporations.
Bond, a Republican, says his party wants to be part of the process.
“Let us sit down and write it, it doesn’t need to be 1,000 pages of mandates. lets deal with the big problems. Keep the system we have. Let’s work to improve that and deal with the cost escalation.”
Jessica Machetta reports [Download/listen MP3]
Bond talks about upcoming Obama address to Congress