WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Ander Crenshaw today (3/23) issued the following statement following the President’s signing of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act – legislation that Crenshaw voted against on the floor of the United States House of Representatives on Sunday, March 21.
“This health care bill is now law, and many are celebrating. But, with the President’s signature today, comes a long list of backroom deals that will cost Americans millions of dollars. Take the Louisiana Purchase where $300 million in extra Medicaid aid goes to that state, $100 million for a public hospital in Connecticut, and $99 million for hospitals in Tennessee. And there’s the Cornhusker Kickback where Nebraska gets $100 million in added federal Medicaid assistance.
“I have stood alongside the residents of North Florida from day one for affordable health care; not higher taxes, not big government, not big deficits, not less Medicare benefits, not more expensive care, and certainly not back room deals. The Democrats’ bill raises taxes by over $500 billion, costing thousands of jobs. It also spends more than a trillion dollars, cuts Medicare for our seniors by over $500 billion, and spends $10 billion to hire 16,500 new IRS employees to enforce new taxes and penalties.
“That’s why I voted for the Republican plan last November and so strongly back that bill’s principles today. It lowers health care costs, increases access, maintains Medicare benefits, ends lawsuit abuse, and preserves the doctor/patient relationship – all without raising taxes. That’s right for Florida, right for the nation, and that’s what I will continue to fight for.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: Additional background on Congressman Crenshaw’s extensive record on health care reform can be found at www.crenshaw.house.gov.
