Speaker Ryan: This Is What Good Conservative Health Care Reform Looks Like

WASHINGTON, March 8 -- House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., issued the following news release:

At a press conference with Republican leaders today, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) outlined how the American Health Care Act keeps our promise to repeal and replace Obamacare.

Key Quote: "It repeals Obamacare's taxes, it repeals Obamacare's spending, it repeals Obamacare's mandates.

It creates a vibrant market where insurance companies compete for your business. Where you have lower costs, more choices, and greater control over your health care. And it returns power--this is most important--this returns power from Washington back to doctors and patients, back to states. This is what good, conservative health care reform looks like. It is bold and it is long overdue. And it is us fulfilling our promises."

Opening Statement:

"This is a good day. The American people--the people we serve--they need relief from Obamacare now more than ever. You know why? Because this law is rapidly collapsing. Let's not forget that.

"Premiums went up double digits this year in 31 states. Insurers are telling us it will be even worse next year if we stay on this path. Choices have dwindled to the point that one out of every three counties in America is left with just one insurer to choose from. The CEO of Aetna has stated that the law is in a 'death spiral.' So we know--without a shred of doubt--that this law is collapsing.

"That means this is the choice we face: Are we going to stay with Obamacare and ride out the status quo? Are we going to just let this law collapse and whatever happens, happens? Or are we going to do what we said we would do?

"Are we going to repeal and replace Obamacare with something better? This is the covenant that we made with the American people when we ran on a repeal and replace plan in 2016.

"This is what our bill does. Go online and read it for yourself. Go to readthebill.gop. It repeals Obamacare's taxes, it repeals Obamacare's spending, it repeals Obamacare's mandates. It creates a vibrant market where insurance companies compete for your business. Where you have lower costs, more choices, and greater control over your health care. And it returns power--this is most important--this returns power from Washington back to doctors and patients, back to states.

"This is what good, conservative health care reform looks like. It is bold and it is long overdue. And it is us fulfilling our promises. So I encourage everyone to go online and read our bill at readthebill.gop."

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