Crystal Lake- Joe Walsh, Candidate for U.S. Congress in the 8th district, addressed the issue of health care in his keynote speech to an audience of about 150 people at the Annual McHenry County Medical Society Dinner on February 22.

Walsh defined his solutions to the health care problem, that clearly differ from his opponent’s U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean, who has angered  many members of the audience by voting for a government overhaul of national health care without first consulting the medical societies in her district.

Walsh stressed that the government is being overly ambitious and irresponsible by throwing a health care bill together without real transparency and the time needed for approval by the people. He agreed that America needs health care reform, but said there are other approaches instead of adding a trillion dollars to the deficit that, “Our children and grandchildren will be trying to pay for generations to come,” Walsh said.

Walsh suggested there are other places to start cutting down the cost of insurance, like allowing the sale of coverage across state lines to increase competitiveness among major companies.  He also harped on tort reform as one of the largest blockades to health care today.

“Doctors should be focused on healing the sick to the best of their ability without having to look over their shoulder because they are being sued every step of the way,” Walsh said.

He also discussed the great stress over- expanding Medicare has had on the almost bankrupt state.  His opponent Melissa Bean voted YES to override a veto on the expansion of Medicare that has lead the current unfunded situation.

Following the speech, Walsh fielded questions and suggestions from the audience, many who were worried that their already under-staffed facilities will become more helpless if the health care bill passes.

Walsh, a lifelong advocate for free market solutions to policy issues, said it is not up to the government to save the sick, but up to the doctors and medical professionals who, until the trial lawyer takeover, had been doing it better than anyone else in the world.

“I am a free market capitalist.  And, unlike my liberal opponents, I believe that competition in its truest form is the best defender of the little guy.”Crystal Lake- Joe Walsh, Candidate for U.S. Congress in the 8th district, addressed the issue of health care in his keynote speech to an audience of about 150 people at the Annual McHenry County Medical Society Dinner on February 22.

Walsh defined his solutions to the health care problem, that clearly differ from his opponent’s U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean, who has angered many members of the audience by voting for a government overhaul of national health care without first consulting the medical societies in her district.

Walsh stressed that the government is being overly ambitious and irresponsible by throwing a health care bill together without real transparency and the time needed for approval by the people. He agreed that America needs health care reform, but said there are other approaches instead of adding a trillion dollars to the deficit that, “Our children and grandchildren will be trying to pay for generations to come,” Walsh said.

Walsh suggested there are other places to start cutting down the cost of insurance, like allowing the sale of coverage across state lines to increase competitiveness among major companies. He also harped on tort reform as one of the largest blockades to health care today.

“Doctors should be focused on healing the sick to the best of their ability without having to look over their shoulder because they are being sued every step of the way,” Walsh said.

He also discussed the great stress over- expanding Medicare has had on the almost bankrupt state. His opponent Melissa Bean voted YES to override a veto on the expansion of Medicare that has lead the current unfunded situation.

Following the speech, Walsh fielded questions and suggestions from the audience, many who were worried that their already under-staffed facilities will become more helpless if the health care bill passes.

Walsh, a lifelong advocate for free market solutions to policy issues, said it is not up to the government to save the sick, but up to the doctors and medical professionals who, until the trial lawyer takeover, had been doing it better than anyone else in the world.

“I am a free market capitalist. And, unlike my liberal opponents, I believe that competition in its truest form is the best defender of the little guy.”