GOP vows unity against public healthcare

WASHINGTON, June 15 (UPI) -- Congressional Republicans were quick to respond to U.S. President Obama's healthcare promotion Monday, warning of stout opposition to any government-run plan.

A quartet of House and Senate GOP leaders spoke against Obama's speech before the American Medical Association in Chicago, with two unveiling a GOP rival to the Democratic bill and two commenting on Obama's speech, The Hill reported.

House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence of Indiana said his colleagues would try to force amendments to the measure and intended to vote against the bill otherwise because it pits the government against private insurers.

Senate Republican Conference Chairman Lamar Alexander of Tennessee said he didn't question Obama's motives or abilities, "but he's consistently said he wants the bill to have a government-run option, and we know from experience that a government-run option is likely to lead to a government-run healthcare system."

The bill introduced by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Senate GOP Whip Jon Kyl of Arizona would, among other things, bar the federal government from denying or delaying healthcare based on cost by banning the use of "comparative effectiveness research," the Washington publication said.

"We all agree we need healthcare reform, but Americans want their doctors -- not government bureaucrats -- to continue to help them make their healthcare decisions," said McConnell. "Doctors should have as much good information as possible when treating their patients, but the government shouldn't use this information to deny access to treatment or procedures that patients and doctors choose to pursue."