WASHINGTON – House Republican Conference Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) issued the following statement today on the successful Senate vote on H.R. 4 to repeal the 1099 paperwork provision that Democrats used to help fund their government takeover of health care. Also this week, the House of Representatives is scheduled to take up measures to begin reversing the FCC’s “net neutrality” ruling and stop the EPA’s destructive plan to impose a national energy tax on the American people without congressional approval. 

“I strongly applaud the Senate for voting to repeal the job-destroying 1099 paperwork rules that the government takeover of health care imposed on our nation’s small businesses. The federal government should empower America’s small business owners to fill out new W-4 forms, not force them to file new 1099s.

“Every week since coming to Congress, the House Republican Majority has come to town to cut reckless spending and roll back senseless regulations. That is because expensive red tape ties the hands of employers who are already burdened by an uncertain economy and regulatory power grabs.

“This week, the House is scheduled to take up two pieces of legislation to cut the red tape. The Energy Tax Prevention Act will put a halt to the job-destroying national energy tax concocted by unelected bureaucrats at the EPA and reassert Congress’ authority to determine our nation’s energy future.  And we will begin the process of reversing the FCC’s partisan 3-2 ruling that imposes needless government regulations on the Internet. The FCC believes that since the Internet works so well today, a government takeover is necessary to prevent anything from going wrong in the future. That kind of logic is flawed and betrays the timeless rule that says—as a former Democratic FCC commissioner put it—‘if ain’t broke, don’t break it.’ 

“The Internet works. Washington doesn’t. Why would you put Washington in charge of the Internet?”