Capitol Connection Newsletter

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Capitol Connection Newsletter

Vote on Government-Run Health Care Bill Slated for Tomorrow:
Sometime this weekend, the House is scheduled to consider and vote on H.R. 3962, the so-called Affordable Health Care for America Act. To this end, Congressman Miller will be sending a special edition of Capitol Connection after the vote to discuss its outcome and implications. In the meantime, the legislation continues to be defined as a $1 trillion government takeover of the health care system, using the word "shall" 3,425 times to represent new duties for bureaucrats and mandates on individuals, businesses, and states. To pay for this massive intrusion in Americans' lives, this sham of reform is paid for by slashing Medicare benefits to our nation's seniors and raising taxes by nearly $730 billion on individuals and small businesses. Specifically, the over $500 billion in Medicare cuts will greatly affect the 70,000 Medicare-eligible seniors in the 42nd Congressional District and will effectively eliminate the popular Medicare Advantage program. Congressman Miller continues to adamantly oppose this outrageous legislation and will fight to defeat the bill.

As Administration and Congress Tout $1 Trillion Health Care Bill, Unemployment Soars:
Despite the Administration's claims that the purported economic stimulus package would create jobs immediately and prevent the unemployment rate from rising above 8 percent, new figures released today from the Department of Labor show the unemployment rate rising to 10.2 percent, the highest rate in over 26 years. For the month of October, 190,000 jobs were eliminated, increasing the total number of unemployed persons looking for work to 15.7 million. In addition, when taking into account the number of underemployed and discouraged workers who have been unable to find adequate work, the rate soars to 17.5 percent. On top of these alarming statistics, the Democrat Majority continues to move forward with their government-run health care bill, which would impose a 5.4 percent surtax on small businesses and a payroll tax of up to 8 percent on employers who fail to provide health care coverage that is deemed acceptable by the government. Considering that well over three million jobs have been lost since the enactment of the so-called stimulus, Congressman Miller opposes placing these job killing taxes on our nation's small businesses. He believes firmly that real economic recovery starts with tax relief for small businesses and working families and by restoring fiscal discipline in Washington.

House Votes to Extend the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit:
This week, the House voted on legislation to extend the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit through April 30, 2010, which is currently set to expire December 1, 2009. The bill also expands eligibility of the credit, raising the income eligibility cap on individuals to $125,000 and $225,000 for married couples, up from $75,000 and $150,000 respectively, and homes sold for more than $800,000 are ineligible. In addition, the legislation creates a $6,500 tax credit for current homeowners buying a new primary residence, provided they have lived in their current primary residence for five consecutive years and stay in their new residence for at least three years. President Obama signed this bill into law today. Congressman Miller has been an active supporter of extending the homebuyer tax credit, cosponsoring various pieces of legislation and sending numerous letters in support, and is pleased the House has voted to extend and expand this real economic stimulator.

Job Killing Chemical Security Bill Approved by the House:
The House on Friday voted for legislation to impose job killing mandates on U.S. businesses, hospitals, universities, and family farms by implementing unnecessary and significant changes and to impose an unproven government mandate on a chemical facility security program which has not been full implemented. Additionally, the bill will also impose similar costly new program requirements and mandates on drinking water systems and wastewater treatment facilities across the nation. At a time when the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is reporting that chemical manufacturing employment is projected to decline and unemployment in the manufacturing sector stands at 11.9 percent, this legislation will add to this sector's woes. While Congressman Miller strongly supports continuing to improve security at chemical facilities across the country, he opposed the measure because he believes it is foolish to require companies to implement untested technologies during these times of economic hardship.

The Capitol Connection Newsletter is published at the end of every week in which Congress is in session. Please send correspondence to CapitolConnectionNewsletter@mail.house.gov with your name and residential address. To subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter send an email to CapitolConnectionNewsletter@mail.house.gov or call (202) 225-3201.

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