Bolling, legislators urge Obama, Congress to start over on health-care reform

Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R) and Republican legislators said Monday that they were deeply disappointed about the federal health-care bill being developed in Washington, and urged President Obama and members of Congress to start over on the bill.

"We all agree we need to do something to make health care and health insurance more affordable. We all agree we need to something to improve access to quality health care to millions of Americans that don't have that access today,'' Bolling said. "But we're committed to making sure that that's done the right way. Make no mistake, there is a right way and a wrong way to reform our health-care system, and what's taking place in Congress today is the wrong way."

Bolling, with state Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel of Winchester and Del. Scott Garrett of Lynchburg, appeared at a news conference sponsored by the Campaign for Responsible Health Reform, which is holding similar events across the nation.

Obama met with Democratic and Republican members of Congress late last week to talk about health care.

Bolling said he thinks the bill that Obama is pushing will result in higher health-care costs, gives Americans less choices and could cost $500 million a year for Virginia. He also said the bill was put together behind closed doors with little input from the public or Republicans in Congress.

Virginia officials identified several areas where Congress and the White can find agreement, including creating new pooling options for small businesses, health care for individuals with preexisting conditions and medical liability reform.

The Virginia House and Senate passed bills that would make it illegal to require individuals to purchase health insurance, a direct challenge to the efforts in Washington to reform health care. McDonnell is expected to sign the bills.