Cotton Applauds House Introduction of the Obamacare Tax Relief and Consumer Choice Act

Press Release

Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today thanked Congressman Todd Young's (R-Indiana) for introducing the House-version of the Obamacare Tax Relief and Consumer Choice Act, called the Relief From Obamacare Mandate Act, and announced 9 additional Senate co-sponsors of his bill.

"Obamacare is in a death spiral. Premiums and deductibles are skyrocketing, networks are shrinking, and the entire exchange system is on the verge of collapse," said Senator Cotton. "What's worse, hard-working families across the country will face a massive tax penalty because they can't afford the high cost of coverage. The best solution is to fully repeal and place Obamacare. But as we work toward that goal, we must also provide Arkansans, Hoosiers, and all Americans a reprieve from the law's worst effects. I am grateful to Congressman Young for his leadership and commitment to protecting Arkansans, Hoosiers, and all Americans from the financial pain of Obamacare's failures."

"Obamacare mandates are squeezing middle-class Hoosiers, forcing them to absorb double-digit premium increases and penalizing those who cannot afford the high costs of health coverage," said Congressman Young. "In Indiana, coverage options are increasingly limited, and the high deductibles that accompany them are sobering. The most popular plans available in the marketplace now require Hoosier families to pay, on average, between $6,000 and $11,000 in out of pocket deductibles before their insurance coverage kicks in. Despite its many promises, Obamacare isn't affordable nor is it working for the average American family. Our legislation provides financial relief from Obamacare's individual mandate because the Hoosiers I talk to don't deserve to be penalized under a partisan law that's failed them."

This bill suspends the individual mandate when health insurance premiums increase by more than ten percent from the previous year or out-of-pocket deductibles rise beyond an affordable percentage of an individual's income. It was first introduced in the Senate on July 14th and was reintroduced last week to allow for expedited consideration of the bill under Senate rules. The following Senators are co-sponsors of the Obamacare Tax Relief and Consumer Choice Act: Senator John McCain (R-Arizona), Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-New Hampshire), Senator James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), Senator Richard Burr (R-North Carolina) Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Senator John Isakson (R-Georgia), Senator Mark Kirk (R-Illinois), Senator Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), Senator David Perdue (R-Georgia), Senator Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Senator Cory Gardner (R-Colorado), Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), Senator John Boozman (R-Arkansas).

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