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U.S. Representative John Boehner
State leadership and
Congressional oversight key to stopping ObamaCare
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) released the
following column discussing Governor John Kasich’s decision to not
implement a government-run “exchange” under the president’s health care
law and resisting a federal takeover of health insurance regulations in
Ohio:
“President Obama has won re-election, but his health care law is still
driving up costs and making it harder for small businesses to hire
workers. As was the case before the election, ObamaCare has to
go.
“As I told Diane Sawyer of ABC News in an interview following the
election, the tactics of our repeal efforts will have to change.
But the strategic imperative remains the same. If we’re serious
about getting our economy moving again, solving our debt, and restoring
prosperity for American families, we need to repeal ObamaCare and enact
common-sense, step-by-step reforms that start with lowering the cost of
health care.
“The president’s health care law adds a massive, expensive, unworkable
government program at a time when our national debt already exceeds the
size of our country’s entire economy. We can’t afford it, and we
can’t afford to leave it intact. That’s why I’ve been clear that
the law has to stay on the table as both parties discuss ways to solve
our nation’s massive debt challenge.
“Congress has a constitutional responsibility to conduct thorough
oversight of the Executive Branch, and congressional oversight will
play a critical role in repealing ObamaCare going forward.
“Over the past couple of years, I have noted there are essentially
three major routes to repeal of the president’s law: the courts, the
presidential election process, and the congressional oversight
process. With two of those three routes having come up short, the
third and final one becomes more important than ever.
“Vigorous oversight of the health care law by the House can be
expected, and in fact is already underway. The House Ways &
Means Committee recently issued a subpoena directing that the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) turn over any and all
information regarding how taxpayer dollars have been used to promote
ObamaCare.
“‘It’s the second subpoena [HHS Secretary Kathleen] Sebelius has faced
from congressional Republicans in as many months,’ according to
POLITICO, which notes that ‘the House Oversight and Government Reform
Committee subpoenaed the agency to turn over documents to determine if
funds from a Medicare Advantage demonstration program are being used
improperly.’
“One state that has acted clearly and decisively with respect to
ObamaCare is our own state of Ohio. Gov. John Kasich announced
November 16 that Ohio will not implement one of the government-run
‘exchanges’ mandated under the president’s health care law, and will
preserve our state’s ability to regulate health insurance on its own.
“‘Governor John Kasich and Lt. Governor Mary Taylor want every Ohioan
to have health care coverage and believe the route to achieving that is
a market-based system that encourages both high quality and low costs,’
noted the announcement from the Office of the Governor. ‘A rigid,
prescriptive health insurance exchange that reduces choices and drives
up costs does not align with the Kasich Administration’s health policy
goals.’
“I’m proud of our governor and lieutenant governor for taking this
stand and resisting the federal takeover of health care in Ohio.
Repeal of the president’s health care law is critically important to
the economic future of our country.
“With President Obama and his party still in control of most of
Washington, stopping ObamaCare will require both bold state leadership
and vigorous oversight by Members of the House of
Representatives. Such action will be critical in protecting the
American people and our economy from the impact of this disastrous
federal law.”
Boehner represents Ohio’s
8th District, which includes all of Darke, Miami, and Preble counties,
most of Butler and Mercer counties, and the northeastern corner of
Montgomery County. He was first elected to Congress in 1990.
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