Rep. Jeff Flake (AZ) spoke out today on the House floor against the government takeover of health care. View the video below and the text following:

We're all aware of the special provisions, the earmarks, in the bill.  The Cornhusker Kickback, the Louisiana Purchase, the Gator-Aid.  These earmarks though, apart from the role they play in greasing the skids for this bill, are probably the least offensive part of this legislation.

"We desperately need healthcare reform - reform that lowers cost and improves quality through competition and market discipline.  But such measures, such as allowing the purchase of healthcare across state lines and allowing individuals to purchase insurance with pre-tax dollars are absent from the bill.

"Instead this bill contains increases in taxes, mandates, and bureaucracy that will only serve to further shield the healthcare industry from true competition - competition that is so desperately needed.

"Mr. Speaker, without this bill the fiscal challenges that we face are incredibly steep.  With this bill they are almost insurmountable. 

"There will come a day that the piper will have to be paid.  We have shown ourselves unwilling to fess up to the challenges today.  We can only hope that those elected this November, and in the years to come, will show more courage than we have shown today.