On health care reform birthday, not everyone happy
The federal Affordable Care Act, aka health care reform, aka Obamacare, turns one year old today.
Those who would like to celebrate with a cake and a candle include Gov. Chris Gregoire, who said in a prepared statement that it's doing good things including providing some 45,000 seniors with $250 toward prescription drug costs and keeping kids from being denied insurance because of pre-existing conditions.
Those who would be more likely to blow out the candle and wish the law would go awayh or be changed dramatically include Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who called it a disaster that is more expensive than suspected a year ago.
Somewhat coincidentally, the House Health Care Committee passed a bill to begin the process, albeit slowly, to set up health exchanges, one of the provisions of the act.
Gregoire celebrates one-year anniversary of Affordable Care Act
OLYMPIA -- Gov. Chris Gregoire made the following statement on the Affordable Care Act’s one-year anniversary.
“In the days since this law was enacted, Washingtonian’s have had more freedom and control over their health care. Insurance companies can’t deny kids coverage due to pre-existing conditions. More than 45,000 Washington seniors received a $250 rebate on prescription drugs after falling into the “doughnut hole” in Medicare drug coverage. Seniors who fall into the hole this year will receive a 50 percent discount on brand name prescription drugs. Children can stay on their parent’s health insurance until age 26. Under the act, small businesses will get tax credits that make it possible for them to retain employees and offer health insurance. I am committed to working with President Obama and others as we continue implementing and improving this law in the years to come.”
McMorris Rodgers Statement on
One Year Anniversary of Health Care Law
“Disastrous Law Looks Worse Than Ever”
Washington, D.C. – Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference, released the following statement today marking the one-year anniversary of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act:
“During last year’s health care debate, then-Speaker Pelosi famously said, ‘We have to pass the bill so you can find out what’s in it.’ I knew enough about the bill to vote against it. We all knew the bill would increase premium for working families (10-13 percent, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office), raise taxes on small businesses, and cut Medicare for seniors. We also knew the bill was too expensive (about $2.3 trillion over 10 years, once it took full effect) and would increase the deficit at a time when the national debt is already $14 trillion. This bill is a disaster, and as we mark its one-year anniversary, it looks worse than ever.”
The health care bill was signed into law on Mar. 23, 2010 over the objection of the American people. After the bill’s signing, Rep. McMorris Rodgers said, “Never has a Congress worked so hard to do something so unpopular that is so destructive to America.”
On Jan. 19, 2011, Rep. McMorris Rodgers voted for a bill that would repeal last year’s health care law. To watch her floor speech, click here.
On Feb. 3, 2011, Rep. McMorris Rodgers introduced legislation that would prohibit the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from hiring new employees to enforce the unconstitutional individual health care mandate that was included in last year’s law.
Rep. McMorris Rodgers is helping to lead efforts to alleviate the bill’s negative impact on Medicaid costs. On Feb. 16, 2011, the Seattle Times published the Congresswoman’s op-ed, Congress Must Provide States More Medicaid Flexibility.
