HARRISBURG – Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Rob Gleason released the following statement after reading each Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Joe Hoeffel, Dan Onorato, Jack Wagner and Tony Williams, voice their strong support for the government-run health care bill that was pushed through Congress by President Barack Obama and liberal Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi:

“Despite numerous polls showing Pennsylvanians expressing their strong disapproval of the health care legislation that was pushed through Congress late Sunday night, Pennsylvania Democratic gubernatorial candidates Joe Hoeffel, Dan Onorato, Jack Wagner and Tony Williams showed just how out-of-touch they were with hardworking Pennsylvanians by voicing their strong endorsement of the Obama-Pelosi health care bill that will raise taxes, kill jobs and drive a government-sized wedge between patients and their doctors,” Gleason said.  “At a time when Pennsylvanians are struggling to make ends meet, Pennsylvania Democrats are showing yet again that they care little about fiscal responsibility or the fact that this bill will add $4 billion to the national deficit in the first year alone!

“While our Republican gubernatorial candidate and Attorney General Tom Corbett is fighting this unconstitutional piece of legislation, his Democratic challengers are endorsing it as good policy.

“Pennsylvanians don’t want to elect a candidate who will run our state like Nancy Pelosi.  We need to elect a leader who will look out for the best interests of the Pennsylvania taxpayer.  Pennsylvania needs a fighter like Tom Corbett!”

According to a Capitolwire article, “Corbett, 12 other AGs, file lawsuit to negate federal health care bill,” all four Democratic gubernatorial candidates, Joe Hoeffel, Dan Onorato, Jack Wagner and Anthony Williams, support the recently passed Obama-Pelosi government-run health care bill.(DeCoursey, Peter, “Corbett, 12 other AGs, file lawsuit to negate federal health care bill,” Capitolwire, 3/23/10)

Joe Hoeffel – “The health care bill passed this weekend … is landmark legislation that will provide health insurance to tens of millions of Americans, end many insurance company abuses and over time reduce our national debt.”

Dan Onorato - ”As Allegheny County Executive, I have seen firsthand the devastation caused by the lack of competition, as costs continue to rise, individuals are priced out of the system, small businesses are destroyed and families are burdened with unsustainable expenses. I will be prepared as governor to help achieve the goal of improving affordability, access and quality in health care.”

Tony Williams - “This is an historic moment in our national history, when countless Pennsylvania residents will have easier access, more affordable access to health care as a result of the reform law President Obama signed today.”

Clint Eisenhower, Spokesman for Jack Wagner - ”Jack supports the federal health care package because it will provide health insurance to an additional 1.3 million Pennsylvanians and will also provide a protective mechanism to those who are vulnerable to losing health care and to college students and young people who still live at home.”

What they all fail to mention is how devastating ObamaCare will be to our economy:

$4 Billion Added To The Deficit In The First Year. (Table 1, Douglas W. Elmendorf, Letter to Majority Leader Harry Reid, 3/11/10)

$2 Billion In Job Killing, Innovation Stifling Taxes On The Medical Device Industry. (“Estimated Revenue Effects Of The Manager’s Amendment To The Revenue Provisions Contained In The ‘Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act,” Joint Committee On Taxation Report, 12/19/10)

$100 Million In Medicare Cuts For Hospitals, Nursing Homes, And Hospice Care. (Table 4, Douglas W. Elmendorf, Letter to Majority Leader Harry Reid, 3/11/10)

New Insurance Regulations Will Make Insurance Policies More Expensive. (Victoria Craig Bunce and JP Wieske, “Health Insurance Mandates In The States 2009,” Council For Affordable Health Insurance, Accessed 8/26/09)

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Contact: Michael Barley
Press Release