Issues

Pro-biz lawmakers under attack for 'No' vote on flawed health-care bill

Thank them for standing up against the gov't takeover bill disguised as health-care reform.

President Barack Obama signed into law a health-care reform bill heavy with mandates and new taxes, but little in the way of actual health-care cost controls.  While everyone agrees that the system needed improvement, the health-care overhaul law is not what a majority of Americans or employers wanted.

While some parts of the law take effect immediately, many requirements will become law in 2013-14, including a requirement that every American must purchase health insurance. That provision alone may be a big problem, both in terms whether or not it is allowed under the constitution and because of the complexity of its implementation.  For example, individuals who don’t purchase insurance will face an annual fine of $875, which is likely less than the cost of most health insurance premiums.  And it is uncertain how the government will deal with people who need health-care services, but have refused to purchase insurance.

The law’s nearly $1 trillion price tag was a concern for many people from the start, and now real-life examples of those concerns are coming to light.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that three large U.S. employers – Deere, Caterpillar and Valero – say the health-care reform law will cost them at least a combined $265 million in the current quarter because it will reduce a tax deduction for prescription drug coverage for retirees.  Making the subsidy taxable in 2011 -- as the health-care reform law does – will shift more employees to Medicare, significantly increasing government health-care costs.

Citizens to Protect PA Jobs supports commonsense health-care reform that addresses access and affordability concerns, but believes that the new law’s manipulation of one-sixth of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product will not achieve meaningful reform.

We thank members of Pennsylvania’s Congressional delegation who made a courageous “no” vote on the reform proposal.  This includes U.S. Reps. Jason Altmire, Charles Dent, James Gerlach, Tim Holden, Timothy Murphy, Joseph Pitts, Todd Platts, Bill Shuster, and Glenn Thompson.

These lawmakers are now under attack for their “no” vote.  Citizens to Protect PA Jobs encourages all residents in those districts to contact their Congressman and thank them for their vote.  Your support helps guide them for future pro-jobs decisions - let your congressman know you appreciate their vote.