‘At a time of 10% unemployment, we should be doing everything we can to create jobs. This bill would only lead to more lost jobs. Medicare cuts are bad enough. But this bill doesn’t just hurt seniors. It hurts the economy too. That’s why Americans overwhelmingly oppose it’
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks (as prepared) on the Senate floor Wednesday regarding the importance of getting it right on health care reform:
“The American people have now seen what Democrats in Congress plan to do with seniors’ health care.
“They’ve looked on in total disbelief as the Majority voted again and again to slash Medicare by nearly half a trillion dollars.
“Incredibly, these cuts represent just part of the pain caused by this bill.
“In addition to punishing seniors, it would punish businesses.
“At a time when one out of 10 working Americans is looking for a job, this bill would hit employers with job-killing new taxes and mandates.
“And it wouldn’t do anything to lower long-term health care costs.
“This is the last thing business owners expected from this bill; it’s the last thing America needs in the midst of a recession; and it’s just one of the reasons more and more business groups are stepping forward and speaking out against this job-killing bill.
“Yesterday, I mentioned a letter signed by 10 major trade groups pleading with us not to approve this bill because of the effect it would have on business.
“Later in the day, the National Federation of Independent Business, one of the leaders in the small business community, released a letter explaining why they opposed the bill.
“They said any health care reform faces two tests for small businesses: Does it lower insurance costs? And will it increase the overall cost of doing business?
“According to them, the Senate bill fails both these tests and therefore fails small business.
“They’ve seen the CBO conclude this bill would lead to higher premiums, they’ve seen the billions of new taxes that would fall unfairly on small businesses, and they’ve seen the mandates and fines that would kill jobs.
“And they’ve concluded that this bill would actually be worse for small businesses than the current situation.
“It’s abundantly clear that the more Americans learn about this bill, the more they oppose it. And now we know the same goes for businesses.
“Businesses that can’t insure workers face stiff fines, resulting in lost wages and jobs, according to the independent Congressional Budget Office.
“What’s more, studies suggest that this so-called employer mandate would have a disproportionate impact on low-income, entry-level workers.
“At a time of 10% unemployment, we should be doing everything we can to create jobs. This bill would only lead to more lost jobs.
“Medicare cuts are bad enough. But this bill doesn’t just hurt seniors. It hurts the economy too. That’s why Americans overwhelmingly oppose it.
“We see the signs of opposition everywhere:
“Public opinion is overwhelming.
“Last month’s gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia were a stinging rebuke to the Democrat approach of more spending, more debt, higher taxes, and endless bureaucracy.
“And just last night we saw it again in my own state, where a Republican won Kentucky’s 14th District by a landslide.
“His message was as simple as it was resonant: Don’t let Washington take over our health care.
“This health care bill is a losing formula all around.
“That’s the message Americans are sending loud and clear. The signs are everywhere to see.
“Stop this bill. Start over.”
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks (as prepared) on the Senate floor Wednesday regarding the importance of getting it right on health care reform:
“The American people have now seen what Democrats in Congress plan to do with seniors’ health care.
“They’ve looked on in total disbelief as the Majority voted again and again to slash Medicare by nearly half a trillion dollars.
“Incredibly, these cuts represent just part of the pain caused by this bill.
“In addition to punishing seniors, it would punish businesses.
“At a time when one out of 10 working Americans is looking for a job, this bill would hit employers with job-killing new taxes and mandates.
“And it wouldn’t do anything to lower long-term health care costs.
“This is the last thing business owners expected from this bill; it’s the last thing America needs in the midst of a recession; and it’s just one of the reasons more and more business groups are stepping forward and speaking out against this job-killing bill.
“Yesterday, I mentioned a letter signed by 10 major trade groups pleading with us not to approve this bill because of the effect it would have on business.
“Later in the day, the National Federation of Independent Business, one of the leaders in the small business community, released a letter explaining why they opposed the bill.
“They said any health care reform faces two tests for small businesses: Does it lower insurance costs? And will it increase the overall cost of doing business?
“According to them, the Senate bill fails both these tests and therefore fails small business.
“They’ve seen the CBO conclude this bill would lead to higher premiums, they’ve seen the billions of new taxes that would fall unfairly on small businesses, and they’ve seen the mandates and fines that would kill jobs.
“And they’ve concluded that this bill would actually be worse for small businesses than the current situation.
“It’s abundantly clear that the more Americans learn about this bill, the more they oppose it. And now we know the same goes for businesses.
“Businesses that can’t insure workers face stiff fines, resulting in lost wages and jobs, according to the independent Congressional Budget Office.
“What’s more, studies suggest that this so-called employer mandate would have a disproportionate impact on low-income, entry-level workers.
“At a time of 10% unemployment, we should be doing everything we can to create jobs. This bill would only lead to more lost jobs.
“Medicare cuts are bad enough. But this bill doesn’t just hurt seniors. It hurts the economy too. That’s why Americans overwhelmingly oppose it.
“We see the signs of opposition everywhere:
“Public opinion is overwhelming.
“Last month’s gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia were a stinging rebuke to the Democrat approach of more spending, more debt, higher taxes, and endless bureaucracy.
“And just last night we saw it again in my own state, where a Republican won Kentucky’s 14th District by a landslide.
“His message was as simple as it was resonant: Don’t let Washington take over our health care.
“This health care bill is a losing formula all around.
“That’s the message Americans are sending loud and clear. The signs are everywhere to see.
“Stop this bill. Start over.”
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