Vern Buchanan Gets New Congressional Committee Assignment

With Medicaid reform and health care ranking as two of the most important issues facing the nation, Florida got a bigger seat at the table to confront them on Wednesday when Republican U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan was named to the health subcommittee of the congressional Ways and Means Committee.

Buchanan is the only Floridian on the Ways and Means, the committee where legislation regarding tax matters is initiated. He was named to the subcommittee by Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp, R-Mich.

The Florida Republican, who has left the door open to challenging Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012 but has done little to lay the groundwork for such a bid, vowed to use his new assignment to push for repeal of the federal health-care law that President Barack Obama backed.

I am honored to be named to such an important subcommittee, said Buchanan, who also serves on the Ways and Means trade subcommittee.

Buchanan insisted that his new assignment would help him fight for free-market ideals to reform the health-care system and to spur economic growth.

We need pro-growth policies that focus on private-sector solutions to reforming health care, creating jobs and revitalizing the economy," insisted Buchanan.The congressman vowed to use his new perch to "help small businesses grow and provide health care at affordable costs and protect seniors by ensuring Medicares long-term solvency.