Congressman Howard Coble opposes the proposed health-care legislation to be considered when Congress reconvenes in September.

Coble said Friday that he favors fiscally responsible health-care reform but cannot support the bill awaiting action by the U.S. House of Representatives. He expressed hope that eventually a bipartisan health-care reform bill will emerge in a form that he can support.

The 6th District Republican said the present bill, HR 3200, "amounts to a government takeover of our health-care system." This bill, he said, is expected to cost $1.6 trillion in the next 10 years and would be financed by taxes on small businesses.

"This will eventually limit patient choice and increase the cost of insurance premiums," Coble said. "President Obama's chief economic adviser testified that this tax increase will destroy up to 5.5 million jobs -- this is unsustainable for families and businesses."

Coble said Friday that constituents in all six counties of the 6th District have, by a large margin, expressed opposition to the bill.

"Each day I hear from individuals and families suffering under the weight of unaffordable medical bills and the cost of health insurance," Coble said. "I believe that health-care reform must improve the quality and accessibility of care, without regard to pre-existing conditions.

"As evidenced by the more than 1.6 million Americans over the age of 90, we are living longer and healthier lives. These lives have value and our health-care policy must reflect this fact. Finally, health-care reform must be fiscally responsible."