U.S. Congressman Mac Thornberry
AMARILLO, TEXAS -- Congressman Mac Thornberry is wasting no time getting to work in Washington, D.C. The 112th Congress was sworn in earlier this past week, already bills have been filed relating to hotly debated subjects like the budget and health care.
Thornberry, (R) Clarendon, has already introduced one piece of legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives which aims to repeal the death tax. Thornberry also said he has co-sponsored legislation that could repeal health care as well. The subject of health care has been hotly debated since the health care reform law was passed and signed into law last year. The Congressman said that research shows both of these laws have negative consequences for jobs and the economy and scrapping them should be one of the first priorities of the new Congress.
"There is no better way to jump start growth than to remove barriers to hiring and keeping workers, which includes eliminating mandates and reducing a variety of taxes. These two bills do just that," said Thornberry.
He went on to say a study by the National Federation of Independent Businesses found that an employer mandate alone could lead to the elimination of 1.6 million jobs between 2009 and 2014, with 66 percent of those coming from small businesses. A vote was cast Friday that puts the ball in motion for a debate on the topic, the vote was largely divided down party lines.
Democrats are speaking out about the ramifications of repealing the law, accusing Republicans of trying to take away benefits that many people are already receiving. Benefits that include lower prescription cost for Medicare recipients to extended coverage for young adults.
"Repeal this bill, and you're going to find more Americans dying," said Rep. John Garamendi, D-Calif.
The bill is said to provide coverage to more than 30 million people currently uninsured. Democrats also point to congressional budget scorekeepers who say a repeal of the law will increase the federal deficit by $230 billion and leave millions more uninsured. Republicans say even if that is true, it would save money in the long run to repeal a big new program before it gets off the ground.
Recent polls show the public remains divided on the subject. A Rasmussen poll conducted in December found that 60 percent of likely U.S. voters at least somewhat favor repeal of the law, 34 percent were opposed to it.
Even if the House is able to pass a bill repealing the law, Senate Democrats say they will derail any repeal legislation, the repeal also doesn't seem to have the support to override a Presidential veto either. Many experts believe that it will take the election of a Republican President to get the law overturned, meaning the issue will be a major topic in the 2012 elections. President Obama is expected to seek a second term, the Senate will also be up for grabs during that election cycle.
Thornberry maintains, "both the death tax and the new health care law undermine some of the most central tenants of American life, including freedom, family, and the pursuit of a better life for the future. Congress has a responsibility to change them, and these bills are simple ways to do it."
Democratic Senator Jeff Bingaman said "repealing this important new law would hurt New Mexico, which has the unfortunate distinction of being one of the most uninsured states in the country. And now we know that repeal of this law is also fiscally irresponsible." Bingaman went on to say, "I will work hard to ensure that this law gets fully implemented so that New Mexicans can receive all the benefits it has to offer."
A House vote on health care reform repeal is scheduled for January 12th.
