Health Care and Repealing President Obama’s Affordable Care Act

            Health Care and Repealing

President Obama’s Affordable Care Act

In 2012, the Supreme Court handed down its decision on the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This page can serve as a resource to keep you updated on issues related to President Obama's Affordable Care Act.

I am disappointed with the U.S. Supreme Court's failure to overturn President Obama's health care law. The decision by the U.S. Supreme Court allows for the full implementation of the 2010 law, despite its flawed design and questionable constitutional basis. The law still fails to address the issue of adequate funding, and will drive up health care costs, making it harder for small businesses to hire workers. However, while the ruling is cause for dismay, supporters of the free market and individual liberty can take some comfort in the dissenting view that this law violates the U.S. Constitution. My House colleagues and I remain committed to repealing this troublesome law in its entirety. This ruling highlights the critical need for a Congress and White House committed to refocusing attention on health care legislation that provides affordability, cost transparency, choice for senior citizens, and will protect the right of citizens to keep their current insurance policies.

The fundamental flaws of the Affordable Care Act will have grave impacts on the nation for decades to come. Americans will see more than $500 billion in tax increases during a time of economic hardship. It forces Americans to buy into government-approved insurance programs, or else face an extra tax burden. The federal government should not be allowed to force its citizens to buy a private product and then strictly mandate what is in that product. Many of the tax increases will come from businesses and insurance companies themselves, with many taxes based on each company’s share of the market. At a time when Americans are struggling to find work, this law makes it even harder for small businesses to hire workers.

You can read the Court's decision here.

Americans deserve real health care reform that prioritizes patients while also protecting individual freedoms. Since the day I was sworn in office, I have been working with my colleagues to repeal the job-destroying, tax-hiking portions of this bill. I firmly believe the Court should have declared the law unconstitutional so we can begin on real, common-sense healthcare reform that is truly affordable and beneficial to all Americans.

In Congress, I have voted over 30 times to repeal, diminish, or defund the President’s Affordable Care Act. Some examples of actions I have taken include:

Voting to repeal the entire health care law was one of my first votes in Congress. With my support, the Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act passed the House of Representatives on January 19, 2011. I currently co-sponsor H.R.45, to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

Co-sponsoring and voting for the repeal of the law’s 1099 filing requirement. A prime example of the inefficiencies of the law is a provision that required the filing of a 1099 form for every business transaction over $600. I co-sponsored and voted for the Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act, which removed this onerous requirement when it became law on April 14, 2011.  

Co-sponsoring and voting for the repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB). This board was created to identify cuts to Medicare spending based on targets set by the new law. I co-sponsored the Protecting Access to Healthcare Act, a bill to eliminate this back-room policy-making, and on March 22, 2012, I joined Members in the House of Representatives in voting 223 to 181 to repeal IPAB. 

Supporting important conscience protections for health care providers and purchasers. In August 2011, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a mandate as part of the health care law’s implementation, requiring that all insurance plans pay for abortion-inducing drugs, contraception, and sterilization, regardless of an employer’s or organization’s moral objections to doing so. In blatant disregard for First Amendment principles, this mandate requires people of faith to violate their conscience and to fund services they find morally objectionable. I have co-sponsored legislation, which would restore freedom of conscience and ensure all Americans are free to practice their religious beliefs without government interference.

Please continue to visit this page daily for news updates and announcements.

You can read the Affordable Care Act here.