Hatch: Health plans mean gov't takeover

WASHINGTON, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- U.S. healthcare reforms supported by President Barack Obama amount to an expensive government takeover, a senior Republican said Saturday.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, delivering the Republican Party's weekly radio address, said the Democratic proposals would end up with Washington "dictating" Americans' healthcare.

"As the federal government's control of our healthcare system continues to increase, private coverage will continue to decrease, till we are left with a Washington-run and dictated healthcare system," Hatch said.

He also blasted comments made this week by Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland, who said the behavior of angry attendees at healthcare town hall meetings who shouted down supporters was "un-American."

"I am disappointed about the attempts to characterize the behavior of Americans expressing their concerns as 'un-American,'" Hatch said. "Although I strongly encourage the use of respectful debate in these town halls, we should not be stifling these discussions."