Responding to King v. Burwell decision, Jeb Bush calls for “repeal and replace” of ACA
Jeb Bush expressed dissatisfaction with the U.S. Supreme Court decision that tax subsidies are still available to all those enrolled in an Obamacare plan, through either a state or the federal health insurance exchange. In a 6-3 ruling Thursday, the court affirmed the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals decision in King v. Burwell. The decision is seen as a major victory for Barack Obama’s administration. Bush, campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, repeated his vow to repeal the Affordable Care Act if elected. He contends patients should be in charge of their own decisions, and health care reform should “actually lower costs.” “I am disappointed by today’s Supreme Court ruling in the King v. Burwell case,” the former Florida governor said in a statement. “But this decision is not the end of the fight against Obamacare.” The Obamacare challenge would have jeopardized nearly 1.28 million Floridians who signed up for health care through the federal exchange and received tax credits. Thirty-four states, including Florida, declined to create the exchanges. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 6-in-10 Americans (59.4 percent) live in states that chose not to set up their own insurance exchanges under the ACA. “This fatally flawed law imposes job-killing mandates, causes spending in Washington to skyrocket by $1.7 trillion, raises taxes by $1 trillion and drives up health care costs,” Bush said. “Instead of fixing our health care system, it made the problems worse. “As president of the United States, I would make fixing our broken health care system one of my top priorities. I will work with Congress to repeal and replace this flawed law with conservative reforms that empower consumers with more choices and control over their health care decisions. “Entrepreneurs should be freed to lower costs and improve access to care – just like American ingenuity does in other sectors of the economy. … Americans deserve leadership that can actually fix our broken health care system, and they are certainly not getting it now from Washington, D.C.”
Martha Roby: Putting patients first
Remember these promises from President Barack Obama about his healthcare law? “If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan…” “If you like your doctor you will be able to keep your doctor…” “We’ll lower premiums…” “No family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increases.” To many, they are unforgettable because they turned out to be untrue. Under Obamacare, many in Alabama and throughout the country did lose the health plans they liked. Many were forced to go to different doctors, to say nothing of the doctors who stopped practicing altogether. Premiums skyrocketed, and yes, many middle class families are impacted by new taxes, fees and penalties. One of those taxes, the Medical Device Tax, makes lifesaving equipment like pacemakers, artificial joints and MRI machines and subject to a 2.3 percent tax. The United States has always been a leader in medical innovation and treatment, but this tax on medical devices threatens to stifle that. Not only is our medical community harmed by the effects of this tax, but patients across Alabama and the United States are negatively impacted as well. That’s why this week the House of Representatives passed H.R. 160, which repeals Obamacare’s Medical Device Tax. The bill, which I co-sponsored, passed with a strong, bi-partisan vote of 280-140. It is now on its way to the Senate, which I hope will pass it expeditiously. Next week, we will take up another bill, H.R. 1190, to eliminate IPAB, or the Independent Payment Advisory Board. IPAB is an unelected, unaccountable panel with authority to slash Medicare payments. We must continue to push for sensible health care reform in place of costly, ill-advised provisions under Obamacare. Of course, I staunchly oppose the President’s health care law and have voted multiple times to repeal, replace or dismantle the law. Individual Americans and their doctors should determine which health care options best meet their needs, not federal government bureaucrats and politicians. Soon, the Supreme Court will rule in the pivotal King v. Burwell case, which could expose yet another broken promise of Obamacare and cause thousands in Alabama to lose affordable coverage. My colleagues in the House and I are carefully following this case and discussing legislation that will be needed to deal with the aftermath. I will keep you updated on any developments. More to come over the next few weeks. Martha Roby represents Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District. She is currently serving her third term.
