Obamacare Bad for Small Business

Press Release

Congressman Boustany joins Kinzinger to discuss impact of legislation on families and small business

In the wake of a litany of dismal economic news, Congressional candidate Adam Kinzinger joined one of the foremost healthcare experts in Congress, Congressman Charles Boustany (R-LA), in a discussion with voters about the massive federal healthcare reform and its impact on American families and businesses. Cong. Boustany, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and a heart surgeon with over twenty years experience, spoke about the job-killing mandates and higher taxes that the healthcare overhaul will impose in the next few years, further burdening American employers.

"As a physician, I am committed to expanding access to quality, affordable healthcare coverage for Americans," said Boustany, a third-term congressman representing southwest Louisiana. "But the partisan healthcare legislation that was pushed through by Speaker Pelosi and President Oba ma does not build on what works in our healthcare system, but rather imposes taxes and burdens on business that will kill jobs in an already lagging economy."

"I am appreciative that Cong. Boustany has come to the 11th District to share his expertise on this crucial issue, while I am also appreciative of the leadership that he has shown in Congress during healthcare debate," stated Kinzinger. "Debbie Halvorson and the Pelosi Congress must be held accountable for the harmful elements of this legislation like the $500 billion cut in Medicare that will hurt seniors and the new taxes and mandates that will hurt employers and cost jobs."

Speaking to residents at a roundtable discussion held at a medical center in Morris, Kinzinger and Cong. Boustany listened to the concerns of voters and business owners angry about the coming mandates and taxes. Participants expressed outrage over massive cuts to Medicare, voiced concern about the further involvement of government in personal healthcare decisions, and worry about the jobs and employer-based coverage that will be lost because of the taxes and mandates created by the healthcare reform.

Last week, voters in the 11th District were subject to a string of bad economic news including news that unemployment had again gone up in the district, the nation's economic growth (GDP) had slowed to an anemic 1.6%, durable goods orders were disappointingly weak and new home sales fell to their lowest level on record. Still, in the midst of the recession, the Pelosi Congress passed a healthcare reform bill that will cost America jobs. The reform targets businesses by imposing a costly and complex new employer health insurance mandate, levying billions in fees on insurance providers which will be passed along in small business premiums, driving up health costs by mandating certain benefit packages, increasing the Medicare payroll tax, plac ing further restrictions on Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts, and increasing taxes on health-related businesses.

"As recent data has shown, our nation's economic growth is faltering. We need to encourage investment and job growth, not to place more taxes and mandates on our employers. Unfortunately, that is exactly what the Democrats' healthcare reform bill does and it will hurt job growth for years to come," said Boustany. "We need new leaders like Adam Kinzinger in Congress to change our approach to healthcare reform, while encouraging job growth in the private sector."

"Debbie Halvorson and the Pelosi Congress ignored the will of the American public when they rammed this partisan healthcare reform through Congress," said Kinzinger. "Whether it is the massive cuts to Medicare or the new taxes and mandates for employers, the voters of the 11th District do not support this healthcare reform. I hope the voters will send me to Congress to work with Cong. Boustany to get healthcare reform right and get our economy moving again."

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