Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act

Floor Speech

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I'm curious. Any of the Members who have spoken about the impact on small business, are any of them in favor of the tax incentive that is provided on small businesses to provide health care? Of course they are.

Now, they might not know it's in the bill because to listen to the rhetoric--and a lot of them can be forgiven; they just came off the campaign trail. They were used to saying glib things like ``government takeover,'' ``job killing.'' But I would urge you to read the bill. Small businesses get a 30 to 50 percent tax incentive to provide health care for their workers. Small businesses do.

And do you know what requirements they have to go along with that? None. No gaudy regulation, no government takeover. And just a word on this whole government takeover thing. I mean I love you guys, and I know you are caught up in the rhetoric of the campaign, this is tax breaks that are going to go to citizens to buy, wait for it, private insurance policies. Where is the government takeover in that?

Now, some of us believe that Medicare, which of course you refer to as a government takeover of health care, and I am sure you are opposed to that as well, some of us believe that, frankly, the insurance companies aren't providing a lot of value-added here. But they are the beneficiaries of this plan.

Small businesses today, if the Republicans are successful, will lose that tax incentive. Think that will create a lot of jobs, guys? It's not going to. And you think small businesses benefit when they don't provide health insurance and then people go to hospital emergency rooms to get their care? Who do you think pays that bill? The bill fairy? Your taxpayers. Your taxpayers in your States.

Now, what's your solution? Well, they don't have a solution. We know what they are against. They are against health reform. We don't know what they are for. Welcome to the Republican majority.

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