Health Care Solutions Group Chairman Roy Blunt and members of the Health Care Solutions Group held a forum on May 27, 2010 regarding the cost of the health care law to families and employers. Joining them were expert panelists to discuss how the health care law will affect taxpayers, doctor/patient relationships and employers.

Panelists:

Douglas Holtz-Eakin, President, American Action Forum; Former CBO Director

Written statement

M. Todd Williamson, M.D., Past President, Medical Association of Georgia

Written statement

Gail Johnson, President/CEO, Rainbow Station, Inc.

Written statement

June 17, 2010: “ObamaCare: Where are the Jobs?”

The Health Care Solutions Group hosted an America Speaking Out Forum on June 17, 2010 entitled “Obamacare:  Where Are the Jobs?”.  At the White House Health Care Summit in February, Speaker Pelosi famously promised that the Democrats’ health care plan would create 4 million jobs, almost 400,000 of them immediately. It’s been nearly three months, and it’s clear that Pelosi’s 400,000 new jobs have not materialized.  At the forum, the Solutions group heard from panelists that told a very different story, expressing concerns about new red tape, costly mandates , and “pay or play” requirements that are increasing costs and making it more difficult to create jobs and help Americans get back to work.  Members and expert panelists also examined alternative approaches to expand access to health care without stifling job creation, including ideas proposed by the public and other members.

Panelists:

Bruce Josten, Executive Vice President for Government Affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Written statement

Diana Furchtgott-Roth, Director, Center for Employment Policy, Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute

Written statement

Joe Clements, Burger King Franchisee Owner from Louisiana, Clements Management LLC

Written statement

July 15, 2010: “States of Disaster: Challenges in Responding to ObamaCare”

The Health Care Solutions Group hosted an America Speaking Out Forum on July 15, 2010 entitled “States of Disaster: Challenges in Responding to ObamaCare.” Members and expert panelists focused on the cost of the health care law to states. Last June, President Obama addressed states’ vital role in his health care plan by stating, “I think everybody here wants to make sure that governors have flexibility … to make sure that when we get health reform done, it is in partnership with the states where the rubber so often hits the road.” But, just a little over three months since passage of the health law, many states are having to take steps to protect their citizens from its costly and unconstitutional mandates.  The forum presented three different state perspectives: the efforts of State Attorneys General to fight the law in the courts; the role state legislatures will play in amending state laws to match the requirements of the new health law; and the difficulty some state agencies will have in implementing the new health law.   

Panelists:

Del. Addie C. Eckardt, Maryland House of Delegates

Written statement

Joe Jacquot, Florida Deputy Attorney General and Chief of Staff for Florida's Attorney General

Written statement

Letter from Bill McCollum, Florida State Attorney General to House and Senate Leadership

Alan Levine, Secretary, Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals