PAOLI, PA – Steve Welch, Republican candidate for Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District, made the following statement about President Obama’s State of the Union address:

“I am glad that President Obama is starting to recognize the importance of getting government spending under control, though he has only scratched the surface. In order to truly stimulate job growth and help turn this economy around, the President needs to provide a clear plan that will balance the budget and rein in spending, and not based on increasing the size and scope of government.

“Before small businesses and entrepreneurs can create more quality jobs, they need to know what the rules of the road will be. President Obama should abandon any policies that would destroy jobs, which include ‘cap-and-trade’ and EFCA. He should focus the efforts of health care reform on reigning in costs, which will in turn lead to increased coverage.

“We simply need our government to ensure free markets, not interfere with them.”

Related: Mr. President: 4 Free Steps Towards Job-Creation

America has some of the best doctors, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies in the world. The problem is that health care costs are sky-rocketing.

The plans being debated in Washington will only make matters worse. Much worse.

Despite the claims of an “open and transparent” government, Democrat leaders are meeting behind closed doors to force through their version of health care reform. No matter what your opinion of this complicated issue, we can all agree that such a momentous task as this one should not be rushed.

Perhaps the only thing more troubling than the process by which this landmark legislation is being handled is the substance within it. Almost every economist agrees that any true reform must contain costs and work to reduce spending on what is an unsustainable curve. The real debate is about how this can be done.

I believe that the proposals being debated by Congressional Democrats will do nothing to contain costs, and will only succeed in exploding our deficit further.

There are policies we can enact rather quickly, in a bipartisan way, that would help lower the costs of health care and improve access to quality care.

As is often the case, our elected leaders are ignoring some commonsense, reasonable reforms at the expense of radical and unsustainable policies that will bankrupt our children, and cripple our ability to compete in the marketplace. There are ideas that would not result in a catastrophic increase in deficit spending, and that have a track record of achieving meaningful reforms.

Competition is the keystone to open markets, which leads to increased productivity and quality, and a better standard of living. Why not allow purchasers of health insurance to compare and contrast all available plans? Currently, we are only able to purchase health care plans that are available in our respective states. Pennsylvanians can’t get a plan provided in New Jersey, even if it is more affordable and provides the ideal coverage the customer wants. The creation of state health insurance exchanges would provide consumers with the information and options they deserve to make the best decisions for themselves and their loved ones, and to purchase plans available across state lines.

True health care reform must include tort reform as well. It is clear that many primary care providers practice defensive medicine for no other reason than the fear of litigation. This is an unacceptable waste of resources and care. It is time that we encourage states to provide alternative means to address medical malpractice claims, such as health courts or medical expert panels.

While leaders in Washington are looking at ways to create a new, trillion dollar entitlement program, it would be far wiser to allow Americans more freedom to use their hard-earned money that they have set aside for health care costs. Many individuals and families invest in Health Savings Accounts, which allow for tax-free contributions that can be used for qualified medical expenses. Why not allow these individuals and families to use these successful investment vehicles to pay for health insurance premiums, and without penalties? This would empower individuals to take more responsibility and ownership over their health care, and make all of us customers, not merely policy-holders.

I believe if the Pelosi-Reid health care bill is passed, we are marching down a dangerous path that will be very difficult to turn back from: a growing national bureaucracy that will eat-up billions of dollars, and will still leave countless Americans without access to the best health care in the world. Everyone agrees that we need reforms, but we cannot bankrupt future generations and ignore solutions that work.

We don’t need polls to tell us that Americans are not happy with Congress’ agenda. Scott Brown’s win in Massachusetts was a clear signal that Congressional leaders better change the focus of their policies.

Let’s hope Congressional Democrats can hear this message behind those closed doors.

Thought you would like to hear part of my speech to local Republican leaders about why I am running for Congress. As you’ll see, my passion comes from wanting to make sure that the American Dream is available to all generations, and putting a stop to the excesses and misguided policies in Congress. Let me know what you think!

In short, a victory for Scott Brown will stop Obamacare in its tracks; and it will send a shock wave across Washington.

Scott Brown has pulled within the margin of error in the past few days against his Democratic opponent, and the race is now a toss-up.

Steve Welch would like to invite you to get together at his new headquarters this Sunday, January 17, from noon – 4 p.m.; and Monday, January 18, from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. to make phone calls to Massachusetts voters on behalf of Scott Browns campaign.

There has been a huge grassroots swell to support this fresh candidate, and he now leads his Democrat opponent!

Our efforts to help Scott Brown and strengthen our Party have even garnered national attention.