Paul Gosar

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. I thank the gentleman from California for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today to honor President Ronald Reagan and to commemorate his hope, optimism, and eternal belief that America is truly the greatest country in the world. Reagan once said, ``It is not my intention to do away with government. It is rather to make it work--work with us, not over us; stand by our side, not ride on our back. Government can and must provide opportunity, not smother it; foster productivity, not stifle it.'' I can think of no better time than the present to listen to the wisdom of Reagan's words. We are at a turning point in our Nation and the American people are asking for a government that works with the people, not one that picks winners and losers. I am forever encouraged by the words of Reagan and will always be inspired to keep his dream of a smaller, more nimble government alive.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Thanks to my colleague, Dr. Gingrey, to acknowledge me for some time. As a practicing dentist for 25 years, I have seen how government-run health care actually works. It doesn't. I have actually seen where what we've done has spilled over into the private sector trying to laden the private sector with the liabilities from the public sector. What we have got to do is we've used creative accounting, taking 10 years of revenue to pay for 6 years of actual treatment. I don't know as a practicing dentist and as a businessman how that actually works in anybody else's terms. We also have to look back at our past to go forward. And there's three things I was always taught: look at your mistakes, where you're failing; look at your accounts and your liabilities; and then make sure that you make an equal playing field. That's what we haven't done here. Where is the tort reform? Where is the liabilities and assets that we've had? And make sure that we're using those properly. And last but not least is increase the competition in the marketplace, true insurance reform where we have insurance companies competing for us on the private sector as the individual on a patient-based center. I thank the gentleman from Georgia.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, America is hurting, but the health care law passed last year did not fix any problems. It will only make things worse. Small businesses can barely make ends meet. And now the Federal Government is imposing more mandates, more taxes, and more red tape? Enough is enough. As a health care provider, a small business owner, and a father, I know that the way to provide health care to more individuals and create more jobs is not through government bureaucracies, deficit spending, and higher taxes. Rather, we need to empower businesses--big and small--to band together to purchase health insurance. We need to open markets with free competition. We also need to implement real health care reform that will lower the cost of care and open up access. Tort reform, red tape reform, preexisting conditions reform: these are reforms that will work--reforms the current law fails to adequately address or ignores altogether. If we are serious about putting our Nation back to work, then we can start by repealing this onerous health care law and work hand-in-hand with the American people to implement true health care reform.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today with a heavy heart as I give my prayers to Representative Giffords and her family, as well as my condolences to the other victims of the rampage in Tucson. I speak not just for myself and for my family, but for the citizens of my district in Arizona and so many others who are saddened and outraged by this senseless act. Gabby is more than Arizona's third female Congresswoman. She is first and foremost an American who devoted much of her life to public service. There are risks with public service. We cannot deny that. But Gabby has powerful beliefs, and she came to DC to represent the people of her district, and everyone knows she is tireless. Gabby has the grit of a fighter and the tenacity of a woman on a mission. It is that heart and that grit and that tenacity that I pray will continue to serve her well and speed her recovery. I hope the day is coming soon that I get to greet Gabby with open arms and welcome her back to the floor of this House. There is so much that we have yet to do together for Arizona, for this country. I look forward to working with Gabby on the issues of our day and hearing her spirited voice. Let me add further the acts of a criminal will not stop us from meeting our people. We will not be deterred. We will not be intimidated, and we will not abandon the people of Arizona because of the murderous acts of a deranged killer. Gabby read the First Amendment on the floor of the House just days before she was shot. That amendment provides that the people shall have the right to petition their government and gives the people of this Nation a voice to speak on the issues important to them. Gabby did not just read the First Amendment; she lived it. She was living it on the very day someone tried to kill her. Let us continue to pray for the recovery of the wounded. Let us pray for the full recovery of Gabby. Let us pray for the families who lost a loved one. Let us pray for the mothers and fathers who lost a child, and let us pray that God will continue to guide us in everything we do.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Section 5: ``The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.'' Amendment 15, Section 1: ``The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.''