TRANSCRIPT OF VIDEO from press office of Speaker Boehner.
March 22, 2011

Congressman Boehner on One Year of Job-Crushing ObamaCare

“If there’s a constant in the story of ObamaCare, it’s broken promises.

“Instead of creating jobs, employers have been handed more uncertainty and more headaches. Instead of lower costs, families and small businesses are being squeezed even further. Instead of keeping what they like, millions are being forced off their coverage.

“For all that, a more fundamental promise was broken when this government takeover of health care was pushed through. That day, that week, the people said one thing, and their government did another.  Yet the people, unfazed by Washington’s payoffs and backroom deals, kept speaking out as the law proved unpopular, unaffordable, and unconstitutional.

“In January, the House passed a measure, consistent with the will of the people, repealing the job-crushing health care law.  The House has also voted to defund the law altogether. In the coming weeks, you’ll see more votes and more hearings in the House to take this law apart, step by step.  That includes repealing the law’s mandatory spending slush funds. In short, we will do whatever we can to ensure ObamaCare is never fully implemented.

“Together, we can repeal ObamaCare and replace it with common-sense reforms that lower costs and protect jobs.”

March 23, 2011
Senator McConnell's Column on the One-Year Anniversary of the Health Care Spending Law

One year ago, over the objections of the American people, Washington Democrats rammed through a disastrous health spending law in a partisan vote. At the time, then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, “We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it.”

Well, now we know—and the results are not pretty. One year later, the disastrous law is hiking health care costs, eliminating choices and hurting job growth.

The independent Congressional Budget Office estimates that health care spending by the federal government will go up by $464 billion over the next decade. The law raises taxes, by more than $550 billion on everything from family medical bills to personal investments, over the same time.

Rising costs means more money out of your wallet. Despite the president’s pledge that premiums would decrease by $2,500, many Kentucky families will see their rates go up by nearly $2,100, according to the independent CBO.

The president also promised before the law’s passage that “if you like what you have, you can keep it.” Now his administration admits that up to 69 percent of businesses will have to change health plans to meet Washington’s requirements instead of the needs of their employees. And those will be the people who still have a job: The law’s tangle of taxes and regulations, as estimated by the CBO, will mean 800,000 fewer jobs.

The new law cuts more than $500 billion from Medicare—not to fix Medicare but to pay for a brand new entitlement. Nearly half of Kentucky’s seniors will lose access to Medicare Advantage programs they know and like. Those who do keep their Medicare Advantage plans will see cuts of more than $1,300 in services later this decade.

Even the Obama administration has admitted the law is unworkable by granting over 1,000 waivers to unions and businesses. The entire state of Maine has received a waiver from some of the law’s requirements, the first in the nation for a whole state. Three more states are seeking waivers, including Kentucky.

Twenty-eight states are suing the federal government to get out from under the crushing Medicaid expansions and the individual mandate to buy insurance. That’s because the law tells states what to do but doesn’t provide all the money to pay for it—and Kentucky will be forced to spend $695 million we don’t have between 2014 and 2019 on additional Medicaid benefits as a result. Governor Steve Beshear said, “I have no idea how we’re going to pay for it.”

Here’s just one more example of how the health spending bill has made a mess of things. Thousands of Kentuckians pay for their health care costs with flexible spending accounts or health savings accounts. Now thanks to the new law, people using accounts like these must get a prescription for over-the-counter drugs. Doctors’ offices are clogged with people asking for prescriptions for aspirin or rash cream.

Do we have to wait any longer to fix this mess? Or is one year enough?

More regulations, more taxes, more government spending, and more bureaucracy makes our health care system worse, not better. And we have record levels of federal spending and debt, along with too-high unemployment.

Government should do everything possible to turn that around—and that means repealing the health spending law and replacing it with common-sense, step-by-step reforms Americans support. This time reform means really cutting costs and giving consumers choices.

PRESS RELEASE from Republican National Committee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                              CONTACT: Press Office

March 23, 2011                                                                                       

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

HIGHLIGHTS FROM PRESS CONFERENCE CALL WITH U.S. CONGRESSMEN TOM PRICE, M.D., AND BILL CASSIDY, M.D.

To Listen To Audio Of Full Conference Call, Please Visit: http://www.gop.com/audio/03232011_pricecassidycc.mp3

U.S. Congressman Tom Price, M.D. (R-GA):
 
“As physicians, we know that there are principles upon which you have to act in order to get the appropriate and correct outcome, and I think we would agree that the principles that are imperative in health care, accessibility, affordability, quality, choices for patients, all of those principles were violated by the health care law. And it was predictable, it was predicted by us. And so we find ourselves one year down the road with the American people, the majority of American people, continuing to oppose the bill and actually increasing in their numbers of folks who want it repealed …
 
“It is becoming clear that over 500 billion in new taxes, 500 billion dollars in Medicare cuts, the CBO predicting that 800,000 jobs will be lost in the first 10 years of the bill, two federal judges, one in the 4th circuit the other in the 11th circuit, finding the individual mandate portion unconstitutional, the administration itself providing over 1000 waivers for the mandate of the legislation already, clearly demonstrating that the bill is unworkable …
 
It’s all so much more painful for us because we believe there are wonderfully positive solutions to the health care challenges that we face. We don’t accept the status quo. There are a lot of things that need to be improved upon and reformed and that’s why we believe as the House voted earlier this session to repeal that the next step is to provide appropriate oversight and then replacement for the legislation itself. So as physicians we are here to say ‘still bad medicine’ …”
 
 
U.S. Congressman Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA):
 
“According to CMS, ObamaCare would require innumerable boards, commissions and panels in order to implement. And again that’s not Republican hyperbole, that’s CMS. And another estimate, I think by CBO, is over 159 boards, commissions and panels. So clearly it’s one which is a little bit top-centered …
 
“Medicaid programs across the nation are bankrupting states … the deficits in New York and California and Louisiana, to name just three, are being driven by Medicaid, and this is before the cost of ObamaCare. And frankly for the private insurer, we’re already seeing … a lot of wavers being granted because of the cost of compliance, basically pricing people out of the insurance they have now …
 
“Republican alternatives, again, center upon the patient being in control, the concept being that if you lower cost by the patient being engaged, you will increase access. And there’s empiric data to that. Health saving accounts for example, which put the patient in control, are documented to decrease cost by 25-30% while still providing access to quality care for people of middle class means …
 
“Clearly, states with their expanding Medicaid problems are crowding out spending upon education and roads and other services, obviously crowding out construction jobs, education jobs, et cetera. So this is not just about fighting over health care. It’s about the future of our country and frankly also our economy …”
 

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For Immediate Release                                                                                                                                                                            Contact: Press Office
March 23, 2011            

Chairman Sessions Statement on One Year Anniversary of ObamaCare
 
Washington, DC – National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Pete Sessions (R-TX) today released the following statement on the one year anniversary of President Obama signing into law the Democrats’ government takeover of healthcare:
 
“As Democrats celebrate their job-destroying healthcare law, the American people count a year of higher premiums, more taxes and fewer healthcare choices.  One year ago, Democrats bought their ticket to election defeat as voters rejected their government-run healthcare scheme, and their continued defiance of the American people’s voice will remain a political poison. The healthcare law is growing in unpopularity as American families and small businesses feel the harsh consequences of lost jobs, intrusive government regulations and uncontrolled federal spending.
 
“As promised on the campaign trail, House Republicans have already voted to repeal and begin replacing ObamaCare with solutions for quality, affordable healthcare. Now, a Democrat-controlled Washington owes the American people the healthcare law repeal that they have demanded. Like the American people, Republicans understand that ObamaCare threatens American jobs and economic recovery and will again hold Washington Democrats accountable next election.”
 
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                        CONTACT: Press Office

March 23, 2011                   

RNC CHAIRMAN PRIEBUS STATEMENT ON THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF OBAMACARE

 
WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus issued the following statement regarding the one year anniversary of ObamaCare:
 
“With a solid majority of Americans favoring repeal, ObamaCare is even more unpopular today than it was one year ago when President Obama signed it into law. Despite numerous White House PR initiatives funded at taxpayer expense, voters understand the havoc that ObamaCare has wreaked on our struggling economy, small businesses, individual coverage, and seniors. Whether it’s the millions of businesses that will forego making a hire because of ObamaCare’s burdensome regulations or the trillions of dollars in new deficit spending, the simple fact is that by the President’s own standards this law is a complete and utter failure. Even some of the law’s most prominent supporters - including the CEO for Starbucks - are now acknowledging what a burden it is to job creation.
 
“We cannot allow the President and his liberal allies to continue defending a law that has left a legacy of fewer jobs, higher taxes, and lower quality of care. Today is a reminder that we need to redouble our efforts over the next two years to retake the Senate and elect a Republican President so we can repeal this job-destroying law once and for all.”
 
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PRESS RELEASE from NRCC

For Immediate Release                                                                                                                                                                             Contact: Press Office
March 23, 2011                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Shuler Sings Happy Birthday to ObamaCare
North Carolina Democrat Stands By Law That Remains Unpopular One Year Later
 
Washington --- It has now been one year since the job-crushing ObamaCare plan became law, and despite the fact that voters and job creators oppose the law as strongly as ever, Heath Shuler and his Democrat colleagues continue to stand by the law and refuse to repeal it. Although Shuler’s Democrat leaders who championed the law claimed it would become more popular as time went on, polls show a very different story. Shuler’s stubborn refusal to repeal the unpopular law in the face of so many negative consequences demonstrates how he continues to put the Democrat Party’s wishes ahead of North Carolina.
 
“As ObamaCare remains dreadfully unpopular and continues to worsen the economic difficulties North Carolina families and small businesses are grappling with, Heath Shuler’s defense of the law just two months ago seems more and more stunning,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “Although job creators and North Carolinians alike are voicing their opposition to the law’s damaging effects, Shuler has demonstrated he will toe the party line instead of listening to their concerns.”
 
In January, Heath Shuler voted against repealing ObamaCare. (H.R. 2, Roll Call #14: Passed 245-189: R 242-0; D 3-189, 1/19/11)
 
It seems that after an entire year, Heath Shuler still refuses to acknowledge the unpopularity and damaging effects of ObamaCare. Apparently, Shuler would rather continue to stand by his Democrat leaders than remove the burdensome law that will continue to destroy jobs and pile more debt onto taxpayers across North Carolina.
 
BACKGROUND:
 
Democrat leaders said the law would get more popular as time went on:
 
“Schumer argued that polls have showed weak public support for the law because many people don’t understand what the legislation will do. ‘It’s going to become more popular and here’s why,’ Schumer said. ‘The lies that have been spread, they vanish because you see what’s in the bill.’” (Alexander Bolton, “Schumer: Those who voted against healthcare will be hurt in November,” The Hill, 3/28/10)
 
But instead, ObamaCare still remains overwhelmingly unpopular one year later:
 
“According to a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Wednesday, on the one year anniversary of the signing of the law, 37 percent of Americans support the measure, with 59 percent opposed. That's basically unchanged from last March, when 39 percent supported the law and 59 percent opposed the measure.” (Paul Steinhauser, “CNN Poll: Time doesn't change views on health care law,” CNN’s Political Ticker Blog, 3/23/11)
 
Even business leaders who initially supported ObamaCare, like Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, are now changing their minds as the law’s negative effects on the economy become clearer:
 
“I think as the bill is currently written and if it was going to land in 2014 under the current guidelines, the pressure on small businesses, because of the mandate, is too great.” (Melissa Allison, “Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz discusses turnaround,” Seattle Times, 3/12/11)
 
And Medicare’s Chief Actuary says the law won’t hold down costs as was promised:
 
“Foster was asked by Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., for a simple true or false response on two of the main assertions made by supporters of the law: that it will bring down unsustainable medical costs and will let people keep their current health insurance if they like it. On the costs issue, ‘I would say false, more so than true,’ Foster responded. As for people getting to keep their coverage, ‘not true in all cases.’” (Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, “Medicare official doubts health care law savings,” Associated Press, 1/26/11)
 
Meanwhile, House Democrats desperately continue to use false numbers to misrepresent ObamaCare’s negative impact on jobs, healthcare coverage and the federal deficit:
 
“By contrast, House Democrats appear to show little hesitation about repeating claims that previously have found to be false or exaggerated.” (Glenn Kessler, “Gifts of bogus statistics for the health-care law’s birthday,” Washington Post’s The Fact Checker Blog, 3/21/11)

 

cid:image002.jpg@01CB7428.7B0DD8D0Dems Sing Happy Birthday to Unpopular, Job-Destroying #ObamaCare 1 Year Later http://ow.ly/4kFn4 #jobsfail

 

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PRESS RELEASE from NRSC

On Health Care Law’s First Anniversary, Montanans Reminded That Jon Tester Cast Deciding Vote For ObamaCare

Costly Obama-Tester Overhaul Drives Up Deficits, Remains Unpopular

On the first anniversary of the Democrats’ costly, unpopular health care overhaul, Montanans are once again reminded that their junior U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) gave President Obama the deciding 60th vote to pass the partisan bill into law.

As Tester helped his Democrat party bosses in Washington ram the massive overhaul through the Senate, surveys showed that Americans overwhelmingly objected to the bill, voicing strong concerns that it would result in higher costs and a lower quality of care. But Tester ignored Montanans’ concerns, and despite his repeated promises that “"[t]he more time people have to see what is in there, they will see there is not the boogeyman in there that they have been told," ObamaCare remains extremely unpopular.

A recent Bloomberg survey shows that 65 percent of Americans oppose the law’s onerous “individual mandate,” while a CNN survey earlier this year showed that only 6 percent of Americans favor the Obama-Tester health care overhaul as a whole. Another survey released by CNN today shows that 59 percent of Americans remain opposed to the law – exactly the same level of opposition CNN found a year ago.

Meanwhile, Americans were proven correct in their concerns as – in addition to cutting Medicare by $500 billion and raising taxes by $570 billion – the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) recently estimated that the Obama-Tester health care law will increase federal deficits by $260 billion through 2019.

“ObamaCare’s one-year anniversary is a stark reminder to Montanans that when it mattered most, Senator Tester ignored their concerns and gave President Obama the deciding 60th vote to ram this costly overhaul into law on a straight party line,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Chris Bond. “As Tester continues to pose as a fiscal conservative in advance of his uphill reelection bid, voters won’t forget that his health care law actually raises federal deficits by hundreds of billions of dollars. It’s clear that Montanans will hold Tester accountable at the polls for his broken promises and liberal Washington record.”

Background Information:

AMERICANS DIDN’T LIKE OBAMACARE WHEN IT WAS PASSED…

“Nearly Two-Thirds Of Americans Say The Health Care Overhaul Signed Into Law Last Week Costs Too Much.” “Nearly two-thirds of Americans say the health care overhaul signed into law last week costs too much and expands the government's role in health care too far, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds, underscoring an uphill selling job ahead for President Obama and congressional Democrats.” (Susan Page, “Poll: Americans Say Health Care Overhaul Will Increase Deficit, Hurt Quality of Medical Care,” USA Today, 3/30/10)

· With Most Predicting Higher Costs And Lower Quality Of Care. “When it comes to their families, they see less gain and more pain: Pluralities say it will make coverage and quality of care worse for them. By 50%-21%, they predict it will make their costs higher.” (Susan Page, “Poll: Americans Say Health Care Overhaul Will Increase Deficit, Hurt Quality of Medical Care,” USA Today, 3/30/10)

· And Over Half Said The Way Democrats Passed The Bill Was “An Abuse Of Power.” “There was a strong reaction against the tactics Democratic leaders used to pass the bill. A 53% majority call Democratic methods ‘an abuse of power;’ 40% say they are appropriate.” (Susan Page, “Poll: Americans Say Health Care Overhaul Will Increase Deficit, Hurt Quality of Medical Care,” USA Today, 3/30/10)

DEMOCRATS PROMISED THAT WOULD CHANGE…

Sen. Jon Tester: “The More Time People Have To See What Is In There, They Will See There Is Not The Boogeyman In There That They Have Been Told.” (Matt Gouras, “Tester revs up crowd as Democrat eyes heavyweight challenge from well-known Rehberg,” Associated Press, 03/12/2011)

Nancy Pelosi: “We Have To Pass The Bill So You Can Find Out What Is In It.” (Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Speech Before The Legislative Conference for National Association of Counties,3/9/10)

David Axelrod Said Democrats Would “Be Able To Campaign Proudly” On The Issue. “The White House told naysayers that public sentiment would become more favorable and turn out to be a political plus for Democrats this fall. Democrats would ‘be able to campaign proudly’ on the legislation, White House senior aide David Axelrod said at the time.”(Peter A. Brown, “Health Care Continues to Wound Democrats,” The Wall Street Journal, 8/10/10)

· “Democrats Also Argue That Public Support For The Law Will Grow Once The Benefits Begin To Kick In This Year.” (Alexander Bolton, “Schumer: Those Who Voted Against Healthcare Will Be Hurt In November,” The Hill, 3/28/10)

Obama’s Pollster Said Americans Would Like ObamaCare Once It’s Passed. “President Barack Obama's pollster said the healthcare bill will win over public support once it becomes law despite polls showing Americans against the plan. … ‘When it comes to health care and insurance, once reform passes, the tangible benefits Americans will realize will trump the fear-mongering rhetoric opponents are stoking today,’ Benenson wrote in a Washington Post op-ed Saturday.” (Walter Alarkon, “Obama Pollster: US Will Like Healthcare Bill, Despite Poll Numbers,” The Hill, 3/13/10)

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius Said The American People Just Didn’t Understand The Law, But When They Did They’d Be “Enthusiastic” About ObamaCare. “Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius says that, despite a new CBS News poll showing widespread skepticism and confusion, Americans will be ‘enthusiastic’ about the health reform bill passed by the House of Representatives once they understand it. ‘I think what's been going on for the better part of a year is a lot of attempts to confuse and scare Americans,’ Sebelius told ‘Early Show’ co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez.” (Tucker Reals, “Sebelius: Americans Will Embrace Health Reform,” CBS News, 3/22/10)

Obama Advisor Valerie Jarrett: “We Are Confident That The American People Will Support This” Because “It’s Good For Them.” “Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to President Barack Obama, said people will begin to support the law when they learn more about it because ‘it’s good for them.’ ‘We are confident that the American people will support this,’ Jarrett said on ABC’s ‘This Week.’” (Alexander Bolton, “Schumer: Those Who Voted Against Healthcare Will Be Hurt In November,” The Hill, 3/28/10)

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY): “‘It’s Going To Become More Popular And Here’s Why,’ Schumer Said. ‘The Lies That Have Been Spread, They Vanish Because You See What’s In The Bill.’”(Alexander Bolton, “Schumer: Those Who Voted Against Healthcare Will Be Hurt In November,” The Hill, 3/28/10)

· Sen. Schumer: “I Predict That By November Those Who Voted For Healthcare Will Find It An Asset And Those Who Voted Against It Will Find It A Liability.”(Alexander Bolton, “Schumer: Those Who Voted Against Healthcare Will Be Hurt In November,” The Hill, 3/28/10)

ONE YEAR LATER, OBAMACARE IS JUST AS UNPOPULAR AS EVER…

65 Percent Of Americans Oppose ObamaCare’s Individual Mandate. (Bloomberg, 1,001 A, MoE 3.1%, 3/4-7/11)

41 Percent Of Americans Think ObamaCare Should Be Repealed. (Bloomberg, 1,001 A, MoE 3.1%, 3/4-7/11)

· Only 12 Percent think It Should Be Left Alone. (Bloomberg, 1,001 A, MoE 3.1%, 3/4-7/11)

50 Percent Of Americans Oppose Most Or All Of ObamaCare. (CNN Opinion Research, 1,014 A MoE 3%, 1/14-16/11)

· Only 6 Percent Of Americans Favor The Entire Bill. (CNN Opinion Research, 1,014 A MoE 3%, 1/14-16/11)

50 Percent Of Americans Want All Of ObamaCare Repealed. (CNN Opinion Research, 1,014 A MoE 3%, 1/14-16/11)