U.S. Representative John Boehner
ObamaCare Problems Go Far Beyond the Website

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) released the following column discussing the negative effect the president’s health care law is having on families and small businesses:

“As your representative, I spend time at home in Ohio traveling through our communities whenever I can. These listening tours help me better serve our area, and they allow me to see firsthand how Washington policies affect families and small businesses.

“So as the House continues to work to get to the bottom of the debacle that has become the president’s health exchange rollout, I recently made a point to get over to Hamilton to visit residential and commercial building products manufacturer FinPan, Inc. I wanted to take a look at the bigger picture. I wanted to talk to employees and learn more about how the law is affecting FinPan’s ability to grow and thrive.

“Like many small businesses across the country, FinPan is being forced to make tough decisions as ObamaCare’s mandates and cost hikes kick in. They currently have 46 employees and are holding off hiring new full-time employees because of the law.

“Despite all the big promises from the president and his administration, ObamaCare is not working for FinPan. And, based on the hundreds of messages I’ve received in recent weeks, it’s clear the law is not working for others in our area, either.

“Some are from small business owners, like Brian in West Chester, struggling to figure out how they’ll keep their doors open as rates skyrocket.

“‘I will be selling my business if health care costs go up 50% in our next renewal,’ Brian says. ‘We have been informed the premium may go up 100%... if I pay $32,400 a year minimum for health insurance, how am I to make any money?’

“Others are from people, like Ed in Hamilton, who are being forced off their plans.

“‘My wife and I are both retired, but not old enough for Medicare,’ Ed writes. ‘We just received a notice from Anthem that our current health care policy would be discontinued January 1 and will be replaced by an Unaffordable Health Care compliant plan that for $500 more a month. That’s a 65% increase.’

“Still others are from people dealing with a one-two punch as hours are cut and prices rise.

“‘My family has lost a weekly income of about $40… due to my husband’s hours being cut…’ Brittany in Camden says. ‘He will have to pay for his required portion of healthcare coverage, which is far more costly than his hours being reduced.’

“It’s because of stories like these that I’m leading my colleagues in the House in the fight to protect all Americans from a health care law that has serious problems that go far beyond the healthcare.gov technical disaster.

“Some say we’ll never succeed. They correctly note that Democrats control the Senate, and that President Obama is determined to do all he can to protect his ‘signature’ legislative achievement.

“But remember, the president has already given special breaks to big corporations and powerful labor unions who have asked for relief from the law’s requirements. Even some Democrats like Senator Joe Manchin (WV) and Mark Begich (AK) are starting to back Republicans in pushing for relief for families and small businesses as a basic matter of fairness.

“So each day we’re going to keep working to put more and more pressure on the White House to make major changes. With thoughtful and aggressive oversight, look for us to continue shining a light on the law’s broken promises and missed deadlines.

“If you have a story to share, I’d love to hear from you. Please give my office a call at 1-800-582-1001, or submit a message online at JohnBoehner.house.gov/contact.”

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.