Washington, DC – U.S. Congressmen Charles W. Boustany, Jr., MD (R-Southwest Louisiana) and Pat Tiberi (R-Ohio) today introduced H.R. 1744, the American Job Protection Act, to eliminate the damaging employer-mandate provision in ObamaCare. The bill removes requirements stating employers with 50 or more full time “equivalent” employees may be assessed a “free rider” penalty.

“At a time when businesses large and small are struggling to survive in a weakened economy, this added burden is completely misguided and unacceptable,” said Congressman Boustany, Chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight.  “The Congressional Budget Office warns 800,000 fewer people will have jobs in the next 10 years because of this provision.  We must repeal it now to permit businesses in Louisiana and across the country to focus on growing their companies, hiring workers and doing their part to improve the economy. 

“Obamacare must be repealed,” Boustany continued.“Americans need a sensible health-care plan which improves quality, lowers costs and expands coverage while strengthening the doctor-patient relationship. This flawed law does none of these things and even worse, threatens to further harm our economy at a time when jobs should be our first priority.”

The bill repeals the provision by amending the Internal Revenue Code and removing the provision from ObamaCare.  

“I have heard directly from Ohio small business owners that the employer mandate will cost jobs and limit their ability to hire – exactly what we don’t need in today’s economy,” said Congressman Tiberi, Chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures.  “The mandate changes the meaning of ‘full-time’ and would have left the unelected bureaucrats to define ‘minimum health coverage,’ leaving small business owners uncertain about their future.”

Leonard Franques, owner of America’s Pizza Company, which has thirty stores and over 1,000 employees across Louisiana, praised the legislation as good for businesses in the state.  “The health-care law has hurt business since it was passed last year,” said Franques.  “The employer mandate threatens Louisiana jobs, and it needs to be repealed immediately. I applaud Chairman Boustany for fighting for Louisiana merchants and small businesses.”

Boustany, a former cardiothoracic surgeon with over 20 years experience, has been the leading voice against ObamaCare, and voted to repeal the law earlier this year. 

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