Political Quotes

“Madam President, my impressions of the so-called Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act are that it is too costly, too complex, and too intrusive. Small business owners in my State have been particularly vocal about having to choose between making payroll or paying the increasing costs of insurance. Many small business owners would like to provide health insurance for their workers but are finding the premium costs are just too expensive. A small business owner in Hattiesburg, for example, who in the past paid 100 percent of the premiums for his employees was recently informed of a 21-percent increase in these costs. He is having to choose between reducing staff or shifting the health insurance costs to his employees. Another constituent from Southhaven reported to me that his son's work hours were cut to fewer than 30 per week so that his employer would not be forced to purchase insurance coverage. With his hours reduced, he cannot afford the private insurance that he had hoped to be able to purchase. The administration has struggled to implement several of the health care law's mandates. Billions of dollars have been spent on a flawed enrollment system that has not made significant progress in reducing the number of uninsured Americans. The stories I have heard from my State confirm for me that the Affordable Care Act is an unfixable and expensive mess, and it should be repealed. I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.…”