The American economy has always been driven by the entrepreneurial nature of its citizens and blocking access to affordable health care will only suffocate growth within the small business sector of our economy.

Because what happens is as the economy suffers tax revenues go down. But unlike businesses where at least your variable costs go down in government your variable costs go up: unemployment insurance workmen's compensation health care benefits welfare you name it.

Challenges of historic import threaten America's future. Action on the deficit economy energy health care and much more is imperative yet our legislative institutions fail to act. Congress must be reformed.

Health care comprises nearly 20 percent of our national economy but outdated bureaucracy and red tape have stifled competition and raised costs. As a result today more than 45 million are without any health coverage.

Most of the State of the Union will not be about Iraq. Most of the State of the Union will be about improving America's economy and providing greater access to health care for millions of American people including senior citizens.

You bet every member of Congress who votes for this bill ought to read it read it thoroughly and understand that what we're looking at here amounts to nothing more than a government takeover of our health care economy paid for with nearly a trillion dollars in new taxes on individuals and small businesses. And it must be opposed.

If we can make the correct diagnosis the healing can begin. If we can't both our personal health and our economy are doomed.

Fixing health care and fixing the economy are two sides of the same coin.

Think of an economy where people could be an artist or a photographer or a writer without worrying about keeping their day job in order to have health insurance.

In order to lead a country or a company you've got to get everybody on the same page and you've got to be able to have a vision of where you're going. America can't have a vision of health care for everybody green economy regulations - can't have a bunch of piece-meal activities. It's got to have a vision.