Patients First, A Project of Americans for Prosperity criticized Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for his continued efforts to promote the unpopular health care overhaul that narrowly won passage in the House last week.

 Despite the unemployment rate rising to 10.2 percent and last week’s decisive GOP electoral victories with overwhelming support from independents, Reid continues to ram through his government-forced health care agenda, putting politically vulnerable Blue Dog Democrats on the spot.

 “Americans want jobs, and this $1.2 trillion Washington takeover of health care is a job-killer,” said Phil Kerpen, policy director of Patients First.   “Harry Reid is ignoring his colleagues and the American people by trying to arrogantly impose a bill that will undermine job creation, take over 1/6 of the American economy, and fail to bring quality affordable health care to the American people.  This is not real reform.”

 “The unemployment rate just hit 10.2 percent, and when you take into account people who’ve given up looking for work and part-timers who want to work full time, the unemployment rate is truly 17.5 percent,” Kerpen said.  “ Since January, the economy has lost 3.5 million jobs.  The health care sector is one of the only engines of job creation we have—it added 300,000 new jobs in the past year.  This bill would bring an end to this success.”

 Patients First, A Project of Americans for Prosperity, is focused on real health care reform—reform that puts patients first.   Patients First believes that Americans want and need more health insurance options—not just a costly, government-defined plan paid for by American taxpayers.

Patients First is a project of Americans for Prosperity® (AFP), a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization recognized by the IRS. AFP is the nation’s premier grassroots organization committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP has more than 700,000 members, including members in all 50 states, and 25 state chapters. Patients First is not affiliated in any way with Patient First health clinics.  For more information on Patients First, go to  www.JoinPatientsFirst.com