The Facts: Congressman Dennis Hastert
Speaker of the House

 



Hastert was first elected to Congress in 1986 for the 14th District in Illinois.  Since then, not only has he failed to address our ailing health care system, but the crisis has only gotten worse. 

Hastert serves as the Speaker of the House where he helps shape the agenda of the Party, which is currently in the majority in Congress.  He has served as Speaker since 1999, the longest-serving Republican Speaker in history.

• Since 1986, health care costs have risen from $1,942 per year to $6,279.67 – a 223% increase. *
  
  
• Since 1986, 14.8 million more people have become uninsured. *
  
  
• Since 1986, 76,000 more children have become uninsured. *
  
  
• Since 1986, overall health care spending has gone up $1403.7 million. *

Blocking Health Care Reform
In the efforts on both sides of the aisle, Speaker Hastert has – for over 7 years – blocked attempts at real health care reform. Each year, for example, Congressman John Conyers has introduced some form of comprehensive health care reform and under Hastert's leadership none of the bills have gone to a vote.

National Solution Will Hurt Health Care
Hastert believes that a national solution to our health care crisis will “hurt health care quality, lead to rationed care, and destroy the incentives that make our health care system second to none.”  (Hastert Press Release, June 19, 2003)

Does the Congressman really believe that everyone actually receives the same quality of care? What about the 46 million Americans who are uninsured and the countless underinsured? 


Pay for Your Own Health Care
In 2004, Medicare reform included passage of Health Savings Accounts. Hastert has called HSAs “an innovative approach to paying for health care in which consumers are offered more flexibility, choice, and tax advantages.” (Heartland Institute, March 1, 2004)

HSAs might be a good solution for some businesses and individuals but they also come with deductibles of at least $1,000. It’s a good program for someone who has the money to put aside and who is relatively healthy, but we all know that’s not who the health care crisis hurts the most.

* Sources:
http://www.census.gov/
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalHealthExpendData/02_NationalHealthAccountsHistorical