Issue Position: Health Care

Issue Position

I believe Americans deserve to have complete control over their health care decisions, providers, and policies. I have consistently fought to defeat the President's healthcare law (PPACA), from the time it came through the Education and Workforce Committee, to passage on the House floor. I believe that PPACA was a misguided attempt to reform our nation's healthcare system. There are much more sensible ways to give Americans the healthcare that they deserve.

Since the Democrat's new health law was signed by the President last year, it has failed to lower costs of rising health care premiums. While this new law raises taxes immediately, there is no new coverage for most people with preexisting conditions until 2014. Also, at a time when our state governments are facing significant budget deficits, this healthcare law significantly expands Medicaid eligibility with an estimated sixteen million Americans who weren't eligible before. This growing entitlement will put a crushing burden on our state governments. Furthermore, according to some estimates, as many as 80% of small business owners would have to cancel their employees current health coverage if the law remains in place. Coupled with an employer mandate provision, the law would force many small business owners to lay off their employees.

Because of this, the first item of business for the new Republican Majority in the 112th Congress was repealing PPACA by way of H.R. 2. According to the House Ways and Means Committee, repealing the bill will save the taxpayers an estimated $500 billion. In addition, my colleagues and I passed HRES 9, which is a resolution instructing committees to draft new legislation to replace the Democrat healthcare law with new legislation that would improve access to quality of care for all Americans, because I recognize that the system is in need of reform.

I strongly believe that every one of my constituents deserves access to affordable, quality, and portable health insurance. I also believe individuals with pre-existing conditions should not be denied coverage. By repealing the President's bill, we can begin from a clean slate to create new health care legislation that protects seniors, improves access of care, and does not bankrupt the country. Not only will these savings put more money back in the pockets of the American people, these savings will allow small business owners to create jobs instead of having to lay off their workforce.

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