WASHINGTON — Living in America, we are deeply fortunate to have our freedoms, our Constitution, and our democracy.

When it comes to the health care debate, though, it seems that Congress is getting ready to overrule the masses to change one-sixth of our economy.

Folks across East Alabama and the country have been speaking out against the current health care reform plan.

Those voices seem to be falling on deaf ears.

No matter what the majority of Americans want, the Democratic Leadership seems to think they know best, and is working to ram health care reform through Congress using a Beltway maneuver called “reconciliation.”  

I recently took a poll during a live tele-town hall I held and almost 80 percent were concerned about the focus of the Democratic-controlled Congress on healthcare, instead of jobs.

Right now, folks across East Alabama are focused on the economy and job creation.

The latest unemployment numbers for the state from January is 11.1 percent up from 8.1 percent last year.

Isn’t that proof enough that folks are still hurting and it doesn’t seem to be getting better?

This week I gave a speech on the House Floor reminding the Democratic Leadership that folks are focused on the economy in these tough times.

Across East Alabama people want to know “Where are the jobs?” not “Where is my government-run health care?”

Apparently it’s in the bill – but don’t ask to see it yet. Speaker Pelosi said just this week, “But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it…”

A majority of Americans have spoken. They do not want the current health care reform bill, whatever it is. I think Congress should defeat this bill and start from scratch.

Let’s pass incremental reforms, not an overhaul of the entire system, to help tackle the challenges like cost, availability, and quality.

Being able to buy health insurance across state lines, for example, could help drive down costs and increase competition.

On the other hand, including a provision allowing tax-payer dollars to fund or subsidize abortions is just plain wrong.

Congress of course has rarely used reconciliation before. But never in the history of our Republic has Congress used reconciliation to pass a bill of this scope and size, especially one that so many Americans don’t want. We’re talking about what could be a $1 Trillion bill. I oppose it.

It’s all about the economy and job creation. I hope Congress will start listening to what the people want.

As always, contact me at www.house.gov/mike-rogers.