“Disastrous Law Looks Worse Than Ever”

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference, released the following statement today marking the one-year anniversary of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act:

“During last year’s health care debate, then-Speaker Pelosi famously said, ‘We have to pass the bill so you can find out what’s in it.’ I knew enough about the bill to vote against it. We all knew the bill would increase premium for working families (10-13 percent, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office), raise taxes on small businesses, and cut Medicare for seniors. We also knew the bill was too expensive (about $2.3 trillion over 10 years, once it took full effect) and would increase the deficit at a time when the national debt is already $14 trillion. This bill is a disaster, and as we mark its one-year anniversary, it looks worse than ever.”

The health care bill was signed into law on Mar. 23, 2010 over the objection of the American people. After the bill’s signing, Rep. McMorris Rodgers said, “Never has a Congress worked so hard to do something so unpopular that is so destructive to America.”

On Jan. 19, 2011, Rep. McMorris Rodgers voted for a bill that would repeal last year’s health care law. To watch her floor speech, click here.

On Feb. 3, 2011, Rep. McMorris Rodgers introduced legislation that would prohibit the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from hiring new employees to enforce the unconstitutional individual health care mandate that was included in last year’s law.

Rep. McMorris Rodgers is helping to lead efforts to alleviate the bill’s negative impact on Medicaid costs. On Feb. 16, 2011, the Seattle Times published the Congresswoman’s op-ed, Congress Must Provide States More Medicaid Flexibility.

The Congresswoman’s updated “Health Care Hub” can be found here.