Topeka (WIBW) - Two Republican Senators panned it while a Democratic Governor applauded the call to action.

Those reactions came out following President Barack Obama's address to Congress on health care reform Wednesday night.

Below are statements from Gov. Mark Parkinson and Sens. Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts.

Gov. Mark Parkinson, D-Kansas
“Regardless of your political views, we all agree that we must fix America’s health care system. Without health care reform, Kansas doctors and hospitals will continue to lose more than $801 million each year from patients who don’t have health insurance coverage or can’t afford to pay their bills. That $801 million is passed on to every Kansan who needs health care. That’s a hidden tax that is hurting families and businesses. It’s a weight around the neck of our economy. Something must be done, and more of the same won’t work. We need real reform, real action, and we need it now.”

Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas
“The President has said the time for action is now, the health care debate is over.

“We agree that many Americans struggle to pay for health care and it is a critical challenge for our nation.

“I have taken a hard look at the proposals before the Congress and I will not support ill-considered legislation that hurts those it intends to help. Many of the proposals will have dire consequences for patients – denying access to quality, affordable health care, raising taxes and rationing care. The unprecedented cost of a public plan will have a staggering effect on our economy.
“The Administration claims these plans are bipartisan, that they are reaching out to Republicans, but our advice and counsel has largely been shut out of this debate. In fact, Republicans were left out of writing the Senate HELP Committee bill.

“I urge Kansans to do your health care homework, talk to your doctor, your employer, nurses, pharmacists, home health providers -- all of the people you rely on for your family’s health care. They have told me, and will tell you, that these bills are bad for Kansas and bad for America.
“We should adopt a thoughtful, step-by-step approach to health care reform that includes:

• Preventing health insurers from denying coverage for people with pre-existing conditions;
• Ensuring patients have choices when it comes to picking health care providers;
• Finding state-based...rather than federal government-run...solutions to cover the uninsured and to protect patients from catastrophic health care costs;
• Changing the tax code to enable people without access to employer-sponsored health insurance to deduct their premiums;
• Providing incentives for individual responsibility that allow insurers to reward healthy behaviors;
• Improving transparency in health care quality and costs so that patients have more information on how to best spend their health care dollar; and
• Reducing health care costs overall through reform of our medical liability system.”

Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kansas

"This evening, President Obama laid out to the United States Congress his plan for health care reform. While I commend the President for addressing this important issue, I have serious concerns that his proposals will not accomplish the reforms that are needed in the health care system. Time and again, as I traveled the state during the past month, I heard my fellow Kansans express their concerns about the health care proposals currently being considered. Public support for these proposals has eroded as the American people have learned the details of these plans. The costs are too high, the consequences are too serious, and the outcomes are too doubtful.”

Brownback has proposed several ideas to lower health care costs:
•Tort reform will help bring down costs for all patients. While patients should maintain a basic right to pursue legal action when medical malpractice occurs, there should be some limitations on pain and suffering damages. Doctors practicing defensive medicine to avoid lawsuits results in billions of dollars in unnecessary tests, referrals, and prescriptions. Malpractice insurance costs have skyrocketed, and those costs are passed on to patients in the form of more expensive care.
•Level the playing field for the self-employed and others who purchase their own plans. Currently, only employer-based benefits are exempt from personal income taxes. Allowing everyone the ability to purchase health insurance with pre-tax dollars will make insurance more affordable for millions of people. Additionally, this would put more power in the hands of the individual to choose his or her own coverage. Even those who have employer-based coverage could then shop around for a better deal, and still receive the same tax benefits they currently receive with their employer-based coverage.
•Allow consumers to purchase insurance across state lines to give them greater choice and the flexibility to choose a plan that best suits their specific needs and budget.
•Price transparency will give consumers the ability to know the costs of their care before they get the bill. This will allow them to shop around for the best prices for certain procedures.
•Tax-free health savings accounts put control back in the hands of patients to decide how best to spend their health care dollars.
•Fully refundable tax credits for health insurance premiums would provide support for those who are unable to afford insurance.
•Make it easier for those with pre-existing conditions to obtain insurance coverage through multi-state risk sharing pools.

“Certainly, there are problems with our current system; nearly everyone agrees change is needed to lower costs and improve coverage for the uninsured. However, there are proposals that will accomplish these goals without resulting in a government takeover of the health care industry. I have long advocated for incremental changes that would improve the lives of millions of Americans.”

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