Health Care Bill “the Wrong Solution”
On Sunday, March 21, 2010, the full United States House of Representatives voted to pass a health care bill consisting of more than 2,400 pages. The same day, the House also passed a “reconciliation” bill with more than 2,300 pages in amendments to the aforementioned bill. Reconciliation bills—which are ordinarily used to make changes in existing law, not to pending legislation—require only 51 votes to pass in the Senate instead of the more typical 60 votes.
Congressman Todd Platts joined 34 Democratic colleagues and all 178 Republican colleagues in voting against the new health care legislation. He criticized the legislation for its more than $2 trillion cost to taxpayers, its $500 billion in cuts to the Medicare program, the likelihood that the bill will increase health insurance premiums by 10% or more, and the negative impact that the bill’s mandates and taxes are likely to have on job creation.
“All Members of Congress agree that the status quo in health care is unacceptable and that we must act to make affordable, quality health care accessible for all Americans,” Congressman Platts stated. “This legislation, however, is the wrong solution. Simply put, it is bad public policy.” Congressman Platts argued that Congress should have instead enacted common sense health care reforms with bipartisan support, including small business health insurance pools, medical malpractice liability reform, tax credits and deductions for health care expenses, and insurance reforms addressing the issues of pre-existing conditions and wrongful coverage termination.
The final vote to pass the health care bill in the House was 219-212. President Barack Obama signed the measure into law on March 23. The Senate passed the reconciliation bill by a vote of 56-43 on March 25. President Obama signed the reconciliation bill into law that same day.
Many of the major provisions of the new law will not be implemented until 2014. These major provisions include: the creation of state-based health insurance “exchanges”; a tax penalty on employers for every employee who obtains their health insurance through an exchange (up to $3,000 per employee); and, a tax penalty for every individual who does not obtain health insurance through either their employer or an exchange (the greater of $695 or 2.5% of income).
Other provisions begin prior to 2014. These provisions include: cuts to the Medicare Advantage program; an increase in Medicare taxes; a $2,500 limitation on contributions to Flexible Savings Accounts; a 10% tax on indoor tanning; and, a 2.3% tax on all medical devices. Beginning in 2018, a new 40% tax will be imposed on employer-provided health insurance plans valued at more than $10,200 for an individual or $27,500 for a family.
To see Congressman Platts’ full statement in the Congressional Record opposing the passage of the health care bill, please visit the web site at www.house.gov/platts and click on the first entry under “Statements.” Previous statements on this issue can also be found on the web page.
Other Web Page Highlights (www.house.gov/platts)
Congressman Platts Supports House Republican Ban on Earmarks
Congressman Todd Platts advocated for and supported a unilateral ban on earmarks adopted by the House Republican Conference on March 11. A statement that explains his record on earmark reform is posted on the web site.
(http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/pa19_platts/earmarkmoratorium.shtml)
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