Price Accepts President Obama’s Invitation To White House To Examine Health Care Proposals Line-by-Line

Washington, Jul 30 - Republican Study Committee Chairman Tom Price (R-GA) today sent President Obama this letter accepting his invitation for Members of Congress to visit the White House and go over the proposals for health care reform line-by-line.

The letter reads:

Dear Mr. President:I am delighted that you have extended an invitation for Members of Congress to visit you at the White House and go over the proposals for health care reform line-by-line. Please consider this letter my formal acceptance of your invitation.

As a practicing physician for over twenty years, I have witnessed both the great need for health care reform as well as the negative effects that government intrusion into health care has had on patients. The time for health care reform has certainly come. Unfortunately, the approach being pursued by those who control Congress will only compound the errors of government-run health care. I have great concerns that the House bill, H.R. 3200, will further remove from patients the ability to make their own personal medical decisions, and according to the Congressional Budget Office, it will not address the issue of costs.

Your invitation is particularly welcome as several Members of Congress from your party have publicly admitted that Republicans have been shut out of House negotiations on health care reform. This is all the more disappointing since House Republicans have offered alternatives, including the Republican Study Committee’s Empowering Patients First Act (H.R. 3400), that would both empower patients and reduce costs. I look forward to this opportunity to engage in a truly bipartisan discussion about health care reform, and I await further details of our upcoming meeting with great interest.

Sincerely,

Thomas Price, M.D.

Member of Congress