GOP congressman dubs bill 'Halloween healthcare'

A Texas Republican on Tuesday dubbed healthcare reform "Halloween healthcare," saying the government will go "door-to-door playing trick or treat on seniors by taking their Medicare coverage."

Rep. Ted Poe spoke on the House floor yesterday on a day when many Republicans spoke out against healthcare reform. Most GOPers spoke out against Democratic healthcare reform negotiations that are being conducted behind closed doors.

The congressman, however, decided to insert into his speech some Halloween imagery ahead of the holiday this weekend.

"When they knock, seniors should not answer the door. When they peek through the peephole, the bureaucrats will be dressed as snake oil salesmen because they are cutting Medicare parts A, B, C and D," Poe continued. "They are going to try to sell seniors on the new bill which we call Medicare part E, but it doesn't cover one senior citizen. Not one. Just call it Halloween healthcare because it is really scary."

On the closed-door sessions, Poe accused Democrats of creating "the bill that is being drafted in the dark corners and the dungeons of the Capitol where the light of transparency and truth never reaches."

Poe also hit at the bill for providing healthcare to illegal immigrants, a claim that most Democrats dispute, raising taxes, and rationing end-of-life care.

"This is not reform, that's abuse. But that is Halloween healthcare and it is coming to your door. Trick or treat," he concluded.

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