San Antonio Express-News - President's Health Care Law is Flawed

Op-Ed

By Senator Hutchison

Two years ago, against the tide of public opinion, the Democrat-controlled Congress passed President Obama's health care legislation - the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).

Since then, Americans' doubts have been confirmed. In fact, opposition to the new law has grown. A recent Gallup poll reveals that two-thirds of Americans either support getting rid of the controversial individual insurance mandate that is the core of the PPACA, or favor repealing the entire law.

Growing misgivings about the president's health care law are easy to understand. Even with nearly two more years before the health care law is fully implemented, the significant damage it has already done to Americans' health care and economic security is undeniable.

Americans are in danger of losing their current health care coverage.

In just two short years the president's assurance that "if you like your health care plan, you will be able to keep your health care plan" is one of many broken promises.

A McKinsey & Co. study from mid-2011 found that between 30 to 50 percent of employers will stop offering health insurance to their employees once the health law is fully implemented in 2014.

So where will those millions of people then get insurance? From government-run plans, subsidized by taxpayers, resulting in lower quality care and more deficit spending.

Economic recovery and job creation are suffering.

According to a recent Gallup poll, 48 percent of small businesses say they aren't hiring because of the current and anticipated costs of the health care law.

Taxpayers' costs are skyrocketing.

In September of 2009, President Obama told Congress that his health care law would cost "about $940 billion" over the next ten years - on top of our already enormous national debt.

Health care costs are rising even faster.

For American families already struggling with stagnant wages and higher costs for gasoline and other necessities, higher health insurance costs threaten to make adequate coverage unaffordable.

The U.S. Supreme Court will soon hear oral arguments in a lawsuit brought by a number of states to overturn the health care law on constitutional grounds (for which I and 42 other Senators have filed a legal brief in support).

The Supreme Court is expected to hand down its decision later this year. This decision will have a major impact on our economy and our health care.

Kay Bailey Hutchison is the senior U.S. senator from Texas.

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