CNN

(CNN) – A Republican Congressman from Illinois who's running for a senate seat is taking aim at the House Democrats' health care bill.

In Saturday's weekly Republican radio and internet address, Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) said the bill Speaker Nancy Pelosi pushed through the House of Representatives last weekend will lead to a government takeover of health care, raise taxes and cut Medicare benefits for seniors, and explode the country's debt.

"In the teeth of the Great Recession, the Pelosi bill would impose ten new taxes on the American economy. The top combined tax rate for my state of Illinois would be four percentage points higher than France. The Democrat bill levies new taxes on health insurance, income and even pacemakers," says Kirk. "The bill also cuts health care for seniors – my parents and many of yours.”

In the address, Kirk also outlines some GOP prescriptions to reform health care.

"First, we could start lowering costs by reining in lawsuits in America. We are the most litigious country on earth. Lawsuit reforms can save billions in health care costs alone. In New Jersey, without lawsuit reform, it costs over $5,500 per patient to provide insurance. In California, with some of the strongest lawsuit reforms, insurance costs half as much as it does in New Jersey. Congress should enhance the effective reforms of many states by enacting lawsuit reforms for our entire country," says Kirk.

"Second, Congress should grant the right to each American to buy coverage from any state in the union – especially if you find a plan that has a lower cost or is more flexible for your family or your small business."

Kirk is a five-term representative from Illinois' tenth congressional district. He's running for President Barack Obama's old senate seat. Roland Burris, who was named as an interim replacement for Obama, is not making a bid next year for a full term in office. Kirk faces less well-known but more conservative Republican challengers in the February primary and Democrats accuse the congressman, who was considered a moderate, of moving to the right on key issues.

– CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report

Follow Paul Steinhauser on Twitter: @psteinhausercnn