On the recordFebruary 2, 2011
I rise to urge my colleagues to vote to repeal the new health care law. Repeal is the only way we can prevent the job losses, insurance premiums increases and devastating Medicare cuts that are a direct consequence of the new health care law. We are just now beginning to see many of the consequences resulting from this poorly conceived, hurriedly drafted 2,700 page law. Rather than taking the time to get it right, the majority rushed to enact this new law, despite the many warning signs pointing out serious flaws in the new law. These consequences are a result of the majority willfully ignoring those who criticized their proposals and deciding that folks in Washington knew what was best for small businesses and families across the country. One example of this kind of unintended but easily predicted consequence is the impact on child only health plans. Last week, my staff conducted a survey, and found that the new law and the regulations implementing it have caused many health insurers to stop selling child only plans. As a direct result of the new law, insurance plans in 34 States have stopped offering child-only plans, and parents in at least 20 states are no longer able to purchase any child only plans. This is a devastating problem for parents who need to buy health insurance plans for their children.
