U.S. House Minority Leader John Boehner told Moore County Republicans Saturday night that House Republicans will reveal their own health-care plan within a month.

Boehner, keynote speaker at the Red, White and Blue Gala IV fundraiser, made the announcement in response to a question from the audience. His questioner asked what Republicans can do to prevent a nationalized health care plan.

"We're developing a plan of our own," Boehner replied.

He gave no details other than to describe it as a plan calling for "high-quality care" to be unveiled within a month.

"I am hopeful that we won't throw the baby out with the bath water," he said.

Boehner addressed the Republican gathering in the Cardinal Ballroom at the Carolina Hotel in Pinehurst. He was introduced by 6th District Congressman Howard Coble, who called him "old Buckeye himself of the House."

The Ohio congressman spent almost as much time praising Coble for his work in the House as he did in his address, which was delivered prior to the serving of dinner because of scheduling conflicts. He called Coble "a stand-up guy" and "a great American."

Boehner said he and Coble voted against the president's stimulus bill and also against his budget because both call for too much deficit spending.

"It (the stimulus package) was supposed to be about jobs, jobs and jobs," he said. "It turned out to be about spending, spending and more spending. We're broke. We're out of money."

For more on this story, see Wednesday's print edition of The Pilot.