WASHINGTON – As health reform debate continues on Capitol Hill, Sen. Michael Enzi (R-Wyo.), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said Monday  he "strongly opposes" creating a government-run healthcare program.

Enzi said such a program would force millions of Americans to lose their health insurance and join a plan where Washington bureaucrats would ration care.
 
"Adding a government-run healthcare program would force millions of Americans to lose the care they have now," he said.  "A government-run plan would lead to a government takeover of our healthcare system, taking decisions out of the hands of doctors and patients and placing them in the hands of Washington bureaucrats."
 
Enzi reaffirmed his commitment to working in a bipartisan way to reach a solution, but said Congress must take the time to get healthcare reform done right.
 
"We need to slow down and set realistic timelines," he said. "Healthcare reform will affect every single American life, and it will carry a large price tag.  We cannot afford to rush and make mistakes."
 
Enzi again said Congress must pass healthcare reform in a fiscally responsible manner.
 
"We can’t pass healthcare reform on the backs of our children and grandchildren," he said. "Our nation’s credit card is maxed out. We can’t afford to pay for healthcare reform by borrowing any more or going further into debt. We have to find a fiscally responsible way to pay for healthcare reform."

Earlier this year, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told a Congressional panel that many states already have a public-run healthcare option for their state employees, and it has not interfered with the stability of private insurance.