Get Congress, staff on government-run plan

I'd like to see intelligent health care reform in this country, but I've never been in favor of a public health care system.

I believe tort reform will help lower costs by reducing the need for defensive medicine. I believe corruption within the current Medicare and Medicaid systems can be uncovered and should be eliminated. I believe in freer enterprise among the health care insurers and competition across state lines. The government should focus on solving those problems before dismantling a private health care system that works for the majority of Americans.

Apparently, our elected officials know better than the millions of Americans who have voiced their opposition to a government-run health care program or whatever Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi chooses to call it this week.

Although I remain in strong opposition to the government (aka consumer) option, two lawmakers have introduced amendments that could gain my support for the current bill. Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and Rep. John Fleming of Louisiana have proposed that members of the Senate and the House and all their staff be required to sign up for the new government-run health care plan.

If those amendments are included with the 1,990 pages of proposed reform, the writers of the health care bill will have gained my support. If not, I'll be leading the charge to vote the hypocrites out of office in 2010.

Deb Welch

Hilton Head Island