On the recordJuly 22, 2014
Mr. Speaker, today's D.C. Court of Appeals decision in Halbig v. Burwell held that the text of ObamaCare clearly ``makes tax credits available as a form of subsidy to individuals who purchase health insurance through exchanges established by the State.'' Since 36 States have declined to establish exchanges, and many policies offered in the Federal exchange are untenable without subsidy, this ruling creates more problems for the already catastrophic implementation of ObamaCare. The poorly reasoned and partisan drafting of this law has led to massive hardship, disruption, and waste. I wish my colleagues across the aisle had worked with Republicans on sensible health care reforms that we could have passed, amended, and implemented on a bipartisan basis. But they chose not to do that, and today's ruling is yet more bitter fruit of that choice. ObamaCare, as implemented, is dramatically at odds with ObamaCare as written and is, thus, at odds with the rule of law. I commend the court for recognizing this. ____________________
