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obamacare

Obamacare

Since arriving in Congress, I have consistently supported efforts to defund and repeal Obamacare. Not only does the law run contrary to our basic American principles of personal freedom and limited government, it is already hurting our economy and will be even more destructive as it is implemented.  Although the House has passed numerous pieces of legislation that would repeal or defund the law, the Senate has predictably refused to consider any of that legislation. As a result, Senate Republicans have been denied the opportunity to put the Senate on the record and show whether they support or oppose Obamacare.

For the past month I have been urging leadership in the House to give us the opportunity to vote for a continuing resolution that defunds Obamacare. In July, I co-sponsored the Defund Obamacare Act.  I also co-sponsored a continuing resolution last week that does just that. A continuing resolution changes the situation. Because a continuing resolution is required to keep the government running beyond September 30th, the Senate will be hard-pressed to ignore it the way they have most of the House’s good legislation.

The Senate needs to feel the pressure of the American people to defund Obamacare and work with the House to find conservative alternatives to fix our health care system.  I’m confident that we’ll get that chance in the next several weeks. Defunding and repealing Obamacare—again, one of the most destructive laws ever passed—is the first step in fixing our health care system in ways that enhance personal freedom and reduce the role of government. It’s clear that’s what the American people want.

What have we done so far?

  • The House has voted 40 times to repeal, defund or dismantle the law. I voted for a full repeal of Obamacare on May 16, 2013.
  • Through the efforts of the House, 8 Obamacare provisions have been repealed or defunded and signed into law by the President. Those include:
    • Repealed onerous 1099 tax reporting requirement imposed on small businesses
    • Reduced improper Exchange subsidy overpayments
    • Repealed Free-Choice Vouchers
    • Reduced funding for the Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (CO-OP)
    • Reduced funding for the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) rationing board,
    • Reduced funding for the Prevention and Public Health “slush” Fund (PPHF)
    • Reduced a Medicaid formula drafting error included in the “Louisiana Purchase”
    • Repealed the CLASS Act Program
  • In July, I co-sponsored H.R. 2682, Defund Obamacare Act of 2013.
  • On Setpember 13, 2013 I co-sponsored the Stability, Security and Fairness Resolution, which fully de-funds Obamacare, while continuing to fund all other fuctions of the government.
  • In addition, I have co-sponsored the following bills:
    • H.R.45, which repeals the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010
    • H.R. 351, Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act, which repeal portions of Obamacare related to the establishment of Independent Payment Advisory Board
    • H.R. 582, Healthcare Tax Relief and Mandate Repeal Act, which repeals portions of Obamacare regarding the individual and employer mandates
    • H.R. 763, which repeals the annual fee on health insurance providers enacted by Obamacare
    • H.R. 940, Health Care Conscience Rights Act, which repeals portions of Obamacare regarding the included insurance coverage of an abortion
    • H.R. 1908, Federal Repeal of Expensive Exchanges, which repeals parts of Obamacare relating to individual and employer mandates, and certain tax credits for the low income
    • H.R. 2009, Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act, which prohibits the Secetary of the Treasury from enforcing Obamacare
  • On September 20, 2013 I voted for the House Continuting Resolution, which funded the government through the end of the year, while also defunding Obamacare.

I will continue to do all that I can to seek strategic opportunities to do oversight and defund, delay and repeal this healthcare law.

 

How do we fix our Healthcare System?

I've co-sponorsed the American Healthcare Reform Act, which is a pragmatic, practical, free-market alternative to Obamacare. This bill does the following:

  • Fully repeals Obamacare, eliminating billions in taxes and thousands of pages of unworkable regulations and mandates that are driving up health care costs.
  • Spurs competition to lower health care costs by allowing Americans to purchase health insurance across state lines and enabling small businesses to pool together and get the same buying power as large corporations.
  • Reforms medical malpractice laws in a commonsense way that limits trial lawyer fees and non-economic damages while maintaining strong protections for patients.
  • Provides tax reform that allows families and individuals to deduct health care costs, just like companies, leveling the playing field and providing all Americans with a standard deduction for health insurance.
  • Expands access to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), increasing the amount of pre-tax dollars individuals can deposit into portable savings accounts to be used for health care expenses.
  • Safeguards individuals with pre-existing conditions from being discriminated against purchasing health insurance by bolstering state-based high risk pools and extending HIPAA guaranteed availability protections.
  • Protects the unborn by ensuring no federal funding of abortions.
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