Lummis Fights To Amend Dems Health Care Bill

Press Release

U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., is fighting to have two amendments considered for debate on the Democrat's plan, H.R. 3962, a bill designed to institute government-forced health care in the United States.

"We must allow states the ability to shield their citizens from government-forced insurance provisions if they decide that they are not in the best interest of their citizens, small businesses and medical providers," Lummis said. "Wyoming's citizens should not be taxed to pay for healthcare reforms that don't make sense for Wyoming, nor should they be told that they can't keep the health coverage they have right now."

The amendment would allow states to opt out of H.R. 3962 provisions that mandate the purchase of government-approved health insurance or interfere with the ability of patients to obtain private health insurance of their choice. This opt-out would be performed by state governors, who would be required to deliver notice of the opt-out to the Department of Health and Human Services 180 days before the opt-out is to become effective.

The opt-out would allow states to protect their citizens from H.R. 3962's new taxes on individuals and businesses who do not purchase government-approved health insurance. H.R. 3962 imposes a $135 billion tax on businesses, including those with payrolls as small as $500,000, if they cannot afford to give their employees healthcare. The bill would also impose $33 billion in taxes on individuals, including those making under $250,000, who do not purchase government-approved insurance.

The amendment would also protect individuals from new limits on health insurance purchasing. Starting in 2013, individuals would be prohibited from buying any individual insurance policy that is not deemed acceptable by the new "Health Choices Commissioner" created in H.R. 3962.

"The Democrat's bill, which is now over 2,000 pages long, will curtail the right of American citizens to make their own decisions about their own healthcare coverage. It will shackle the freedom of the American people while empowering the federal government, which is exactly the opposite of what our founding fathers were trying to achieve with the Constitution."

Lummis' second amendment, cosponsored by Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., would empower states to opt out of the bill's unfunded Medicaid mandate. The bill is estimated by the Congressional Budget Office to put 15 million more Americans on state Medicaid roles at a total cost to the states of $34 billion over five years.

"Unlike the federal government, Wyoming lives within its means and balances its budget," Lummis continued. "Our state law requires it, and it's the right thing to do. Unlike the federal government, Wyoming and other states cannot simply print more money to comply with unfunded mandates.

"When the federal government forces states to pay more for unfunded federal mandates that means states have less money to build highways and schools, and fund economic development projects and state-based health care programs. My amendment would very simply allow states to make their own determination of whether or not they can execute this Medicaid expansion and still meet their budgeting responsibilities.

"While we may not agree on the most appropriate way to cover the uninsured in this nation, perhaps we can agree that states should have a say in how much of the health reform bill they can reasonably shoulder in these difficult economic times."

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