On the recordFebruary 3, 2011
I support Senator McConnell's effort to fully repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Act. I opposed the final passage of this new law because it was the product of a seriously flawed process that was rushed on a host of artificial timelines resulting in fundamentally defective policy that did not resolve the issue of affordability of health care in Maine and across the country. In addition, the preponderance of the beneficial reforms and subsidies do not kick in until 2014, so between now and then most Mainers will continue to experience what they know all too well--a continuation of premiums that have skyrocketed by 426 percent over the past decade and diminishing competition and plan choices in our markets. Regrettably, what the Democratic majority rushed through the Senate floor last Congress was a 2,740-page bill, which we were forced to complete by Christmas day after a mere 21 days on the floor. As the result of this massive bill, we have a bloated and overextended new law that dramatically augments the reach of the Federal Government in health care. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the new health reform law mandates 41 separate rulemakings, at least 100 additional regulatory guidance documents, and 129 reports. In addition, the new law is paid for with a job-killing $210 billion increase in Medicare taxes on businesses and an estimated $500 billion overall increase in taxes at this time of economic peril.
