Chuck Fleischmann, Republican candidate for Congress in the 3rd District, responded to tonight’s vote in the Senate allowing Senator Harry Reid’s health care legislation to move closer to becoming law.

Over the objections of Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker voting against debate on health care reform, the U.S. Senate voted to move the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act onto the floor.

“It is truly unfortunate that the leadership in Washington continues to ignore the wants of the American people. With tonight’s vote allowing Leader Reid’s health care legislation to proceed, they have all but assured a massive intrusion by the government into nearly 1/6 of our economy.

"The Congressional Research Service has stated that 97% of all bills that pass this phase of the legislative process become law. This means that between Harry Reid’s 2,000 page bill, and Nancy Pelosi’s 2,000 page bill, Americans are sure to face higher taxes, larger deficits, and a government takeover of health care.

"Instead of fighting for true reform by allowing Americans to purchase insurance across state lines, enacting tort reform, and creating Health Savings Accounts, the liberal leadership in Washington has told us they know best. But the truth is, they just don’t get it.

“I want to thank Tennessee’s two senators, Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker, for helping lead the fight to stop the passage of this legislation. I agree with Senator Alexander who says that ‘we need to start over’ and ‘move step-by-step to reduce health care costs using the steps that Republicans have repeatedly proposed.’

"I also agree with Senator Corker that this bill ‘creates a very painful situation for Tennessee and other states’ by passing the expanded Medicaid costs of $25 billion off to the states.

“When I go to Washington, I will pursue in the House the same goals that Senators Alexander and Corker are pursuing in the Senate: true health care reform that lowers costs and keeps the government out of our lives.”