Repealing Mandatory Funding for the State Health Insurance Exchanges

I thank the gentleman.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this Republican proposal because it will not create jobs, it will not stimulate our struggling economy, and it will not put the middle class back to work. Instead, the bill that we are considering today would take away funding for States to offer new affordable insurance options for their citizens. And this bill would lead to job loss, hindering our fragile economic recovery.

Bait and switch--that is what it is called when you say one thing and do another, when you run for office promising to create jobs and bolster the economy and get elected and start doing something entirely different.

Last election was about jobs and the economy, and Congress should be at the forefront. But instead of leading and putting Americans back to work, we are considering a bill to repeal funding that will create jobs and provide families and small businesses with access to affordable health care options.

Forty-eight States, including my home State of Wisconsin, have already received up to $1 million each to get health insurance exchanges up and running, including hiring key staff for implementation. In other words, this funding is creating jobs.

This Republican bill raises a very important question: Are we going to ask cash-strapped States to return the money they have already been awarded? Are we going to prevent these States from receiving further funding that will create jobs?

I fail to see how rescinding these dollars that will be used to create jobs is the right thing to do to get our economy back on track, and I urge my colleagues to stand up for Americans looking for work and looking for affordable health care and vote against this bill.

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