Washington Democrats have a plan: Big government stimulus package? Check. Cap and trade national energy tax? Check.

They've managed to push through every piece with minimal Republican support or even input. They bring their bills to the floor at the very last minute, giving no lawmaker time to read the legislation and giving no citizen time to voice his or her opinions on it.

Witness the AIG bonuses that were actually protected by the so-called stimulus package. The American people were furious to learn that these CEOs were receiving taxpayer-funded bonuses, and the lawmakers who voted for the stimulus were caught red-handed, unfamiliar with their own bill.

We took part in the town hall experience this past month. Dr. Burgess held three town halls in his district. Then, he joined Rep. Bachmann at two public meetings in Minnesota to share his perspective as a doctor and a member of one of the committees working on the legislation.

People want to know why Washington thinks it's OK to add a trillion-dollar reform to the historic tab that has been run up for their children and grandchildren. Most of all, they want to know why Congress is charging ahead with a grand and expensive wholesale restructuring of our health care system when there are smaller, less expensive, bipartisan ideas for reform that haven't even been given a shot.

We have the highest-quality care, but it remains too expensive and too inaccessible. However, implementing a bank-breaking and inefficient government-run health care program is not the change the American people want.

The heat of the debate revolves around costs and control. A debate on health care cannot escape a debate about the federal budget; it is caught in the middle of our nation's ailing economy.

Recent projections suggest we will reach a federal deficit of $1.6 trillion this year with a total of $9 trillion added to the national debt in the next decade. We cannot ignore the significant costs of the Democrats' proposals and simply place the burden on future generations.

We don't need to break the bank in order to reform our health care system.

Expanding and strengthening tax-free health savings accounts so people can save for health expenses will help people afford the care they need. Association Health Plans will allow small businesses and families to access lower costs for coverage by getting them the sort of economies of scale big businesses enjoy.

Allowing people to purchase health insurance across state lines will increase competition among insurers and apply positive pressure to states to reduce costly mandates. And real tort reform would cut down on the costs of defensive medicine and frivolous malpractice suits.

Rep. Bachmann has a bipartisan bill to allow all health expenses to be tax-deductible for individuals, as it is now for employers. Leveling this playing field not only brings down costs for all, but puts consumers in control of their care.

Rep. Burgess has introduced health care legislation aimed at reducing health care costs, improving choices and ensuring there are enough doctors to care for America's patients. He is also a strong advocate for meaningful medical liability reform, an area of reform critical for doctors and one that has proved to be effective and successful in his home state of Texas.

Hopefully Congress has learned from the people during the August recess and will work together to implement real, bipartisan, common-sense health care reforms that provide quality, affordable health care.

Reps. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., and Michael C. Burgess, R-Texas, serve in the House of Representatives.


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