The House GOP Doctors Caucus marked the third anniversary of Obamacare on Thursday by reinforcing its efforts to repeal the law.
“The only thing bipartisan about this bill was its opposition,” said Rep. Phil Roe of Tennessee.
Roe, a retired obstetrician, was among the 19 caucus members who held a news conference near the Capitol to denounce President Barack Obama’s signature legislation.
“It was a bad idea three years ago — and it’s still a bad idea today,” Roe said.
“With billions in new taxes and a multitude of moving-target rules and regulations, the law is hurting small businesses and hindering job growth,” said Georgia Rep. Phil Gingrey, also an obstetrician. “In the meantime, more than 7 million people have already lost their coverage completely.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Larry Buschon, a heart surgeon representing Indiana, derided the 2.3 percent Obamacare tax on medical devices.
“The Hoosier State is home to a strong medical-device industry, and this tax has already forced businesses to scrap plans for expansion,” Buschon said. “I have personally depended on these devices in the operating room to save the lives of my patients. The Affordable Care Act is bad for patients.”
Louisiana Rep. John Fleming, who specializes in family medicine, introduced legislation that would restore the tax credits and spending flexibility that were part of health savings accounts before Obamacare.
“As long as Senate Democrats and President Obama remain committed to this monstrosity, it’s important that we do what we can to blunt the damaging effects of Obamacare, while passing common-sense reforms that put Americans back in charge of their own health care.”
Fleming’s colleague, Rep. Bill Cassidy, said he has treated uninsured patients in public hospitals since 1981.
“American families are paying $3,000 more in premiums than before Obamacare — and the costs just keep piling up,” Cassidy said. “Businesses cannot afford to hire new employees or shift people to part-time to avoid expensive regulations.
“Three years later, Obamacare continues to be an anchor on our economy and job creation.”
Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona, a dentist, likened support for Obamacare to “a chicken supporting Colonel Sanders,” referring to Col. Harland Sanders, the founder of the KFC fast-food chain. “The Native American tribes in my district who have been on government healthcare the longest are now seeking private options. So should we.”
And Rep. Paul Broun, a Georgia physician, said Obamacare “has already begun to destroy our liberty. It has allowed the government to usurp control of this country’s healthcare system — and, as a result, the quality of care has been compromised, countless jobs have been lost, and Americans have been stripped of their freedom of choice.
“I will continue to do everything I can to repeal Obamacare in its entirety and replace it with true patient-centered healthcare reform.”
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