U.S. Representative John Boehner

Now it’s up to the Senate to Provide ObamaCare Fairness for All

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) released the following column discussing House-passed legislation delaying ObamaCare’s mandates to give equal protection – and some basic fairness – to individuals and families:

"On July 16, 35 Democrats joined Republicans in the House of Representatives in voting to delay the employer mandate in the president’s health care law. In a subsequent vote, 22 Democrats joined Republicans in voting to delay the individual mandate.

“Though the president says only big businesses need an exemption from his health care law, this bipartisan coalition rightly – and fairly – acted to protect all Americans from its increasing costs and complexity.

“Now the bills go on to the Senate. President Obama has threatened to veto them, and we are urging him to reconsider as a matter of fairness for millions of families who continue to struggle in this difficult economy.

“We’re also calling on Democrats in the Senate to take up the bills immediately. That’s why I asked the co-sponsors of these measures, Reps. Todd Young (R-IN) and Tim Griffin (R-AR), to deliver the July 20 Republican Weekly Address.

“In pressing for action, Rep. Young says the law is just as daunting for families as it is for businesses. Middle-class families and individuals ‘don’t have an army of lawyers, lobbyists and accountants at their disposal to make sense of it all,’ Young says. ‘The government just put out an additional 145 pages of regulations on the individual mandate alone.  How are ordinary citizens supposed to keep up?’

“Highlighting the law’s impact on jobs, Rep. Griffin says ‘This whole thing is a train wreck…The story I recently heard from a 21-year old Hispanic-American who runs a small business in my district is becoming all too familiar. He currently employs 45 workers, and according to him, he’s ready to hire 10 or 20 more, but he can’t because ObamaCare makes him choose between new, higher insurance premiums or hefty fines.’

“As Republicans make the case for protecting all Americans from the president’s top-down approach to health care, even the White House’s staunchest allies – many of whom initially supported the law – are speaking out. Earlier this month representatives from three labor unions wrote Democratic leaders in the House and Senate, warning that the law threatens to ‘destroy the foundation of the 40 hour work week’ and ‘hurt millions of Americans.’

“That’s certainly true here in Ohio, where many will pay nearly $200 more per month on average for health insurance because of provisions in the law. Indiana is the latest state to announce that the law will result in higher costs for individuals – increases of more than $300 per month are expected.

“Meanwhile, hardly a day goes without news of employers being forced to cut back. Bloomberg News reported recently that the University of Akron ‘is among a half-dozen [universities] in Ohio that have said they’ll restrict hours at least partly’ for some employees as a result of the law. A few weeks ago, New-York based grocery chain Wegmans announced it will be forced to cut back on benefits for part-time employees.

“This law has to go. It’s already costing jobs, forcing people off plans that they like, and driving up premiums.

“The House has done its part. As we continue working to repeal the law in its entirety, we’ve acted to delay ObamaCare’s mandates to give equal protection – and some basic fairness – to individuals and families. Now it’s time for the Senate to act."

Boehner represents Ohio’s 8th District, which includes all of Butler, Clark, Darke, Miami, and Preble counties, and the southernmost part of Mercer County. He was first elected to Congress in 1990.