Medicare for all legislation would bring a socialist, complete government takeover of healthcare, and create a dangerous situation, Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., said Tuesday, before members of the House Rules Committee were to begin their first congressional hearing to discuss the controversial plan.
"We're not Venezuela and that's what they're talking about doing here," Rep. Walden told Fox News' "America's Newsroom," pointing out 158 million Americans get their insurance through an employer or union plan, and that would be "gone," as would traditional Medicare plans.
"They think the government can do it more affordably and efficiently," Walden said. "You would have to double or triple personal income tax, and doctors and hospitals take a 40% cut."
He also pointed out wait lines would be far too long should a Medicare for all plan be approved.
"If you think it's fun to wait in line at the DMV, you'll love Bernie Sanders' wait times for Medicare for all," Walden said. "We won't have innovation in medicine in America. That's where we innovate in the world."
Meanwhile, the Rules Committee is just a small group of 5-2, Walden said, rather than a larger group where there is a lot of opportunity for the public to participate.
"The Democrats won't do it in the committee that has the jurisdiction to do it," Walden said. "This is unprecedented and the wrong way to approach a complete government takeover of our healthcare system."
He added the Medicare for all call is a "great admission" from Democrats that Obamacare is not working, so "they want to double down on that concept and make it all government run."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.