(MYSTIC) - Rob Simmons, candidate for U.S. Senate, made the following statement today reacting to passage of House Democrats' health care takeover:

"In passing what The Wall Street Journal has called 'the worst bill ever,' House Democrats have endorsed massive increases in spending and taxes on the middle class, higher health insurance premiums, and a government takeover of health care that will inevitably put politicians and government bureaucrats between patients and doctors and reduce the quality of care Americans have come to expect.
 
"In just the one year since they came to power, the deficit has already tripled its previous record, and now, despite tens of trillions of dollars in already unfunded entitlements, Democrats have added this $1.2 trillion monstrosity whose true cost is masked by accounting gimmickry that would make Bernie Madoff blush.
 
"There were other reasonable proposals that would have brought real and needed reform to health care without raising taxes or increasing the deficit - two key campaign promises of President Obama that have been thrown out the window.  

"Among the many good ideas never seriously considered by the Democrats were allowing consumers to purchase health insurance across state lines, tort reform, providing tax equity for individuals who don't get insurance through an employer, and allowing greater cooperation between businesses to band together and negotiate for lower insurance prices.  Instead of seeking real bipartisan solutions, Democrats once again put their far left ideology ahead of common sense.
 
"It is now incumbent upon the Senate to bring sanity to the health care reform debate and reflect the will of the American people.  But if recent history is any indication, Americans will have to wait until November 2010 to have their say."