by State Sen. Brad Lager
This website brought to you in part by the following sponsor:
Find out how to advertise here - Email us! [email protected]
For nearly four years, our state and our nation have struggled to regain the economic growth and prosperity that once blessed this country.
At the foundation of this crisis lies one of the most important philosophical fights of our lifetime. On one side is the belief that greater government involvement through new laws, more regulation and increased mandates is the answer to these problems. On the other side is the belief that the innovation and creativity of the private sector along with the empowerment of consumers to make their own decisions is the best path.
Regardless of which philosophical belief they may hold, most Americans agree that an efficient, high-quality healthcare system is necessary to secure long term economic stability and future prosperity. Today, employers are over-burdened with out-of-control healthcare costs, thereby limiting their abilities to expand their businesses and grow good paying jobs. Employees are being forced to spend a growing percentage of their personal budgets on healthcare which reduces their discretionary spending. The combined result is a suffocation of our economy.
It is time to address this crisis. It is time for real solutions. It is time to secure the economic foundation for our future. Therefore, it is time to empower consumers and trust the entrepreneurs and innovators within our private sector to address this crisis. The solutions to our problems will not be found through the creation of more laws, greater regulation, or a reduction of our freedoms. This country is great in spite of government, not because of government. This country is the most innovative and prosperous because our free market system works. Now is the time to trust these principles within healthcare.
We must encourage private sector solutions that improve inefficiency and advance patient care. We must empower consumers by giving patients the tools to make their own healthcare decisions. We must get government out of the way so that consumers and their providers can create a system to deliver the services consumers demand at price they can afford. With people spending less of their income on healthcare costs, they will have more money to spend on growing our economy and fueling our prosperous future.
As always, please feel free to call, email, or write with your ideas or concerns. The Capitol number is (573) 751-1415, my email is [email protected] and my mailing address is Room 422, State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101.