John Boehner 8TH DISCTRICT OF OHIO

Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) today delivered the following speech on the House floor outlining what repealing the job-destroying health care law means for families, small businesses, and taxpayers, and urging lawmakers to work together on better reforms that will lower costs and protect jobs. A link to the video and the full remarks as prepared are below:

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“I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank all the Members of this body for a spirited, respectful debate on this critical issue.

“Both sides of the aisle have very different viewpoints on what government’s role in health care should be. 

“If there is one thing we do agree on, it’s that this health care law needs improvement.  The president himself said as much yesterday. 

“Why does it need improvement?  Just look at the facts.

“Yesterday, 200 economists and experts put out a letter calling ObamaCare ‘a barrier to job growth.’ 

“The letter talks about how employers are struggling to keep up with all the mandates and tax hikes in this law, flooding the job market with additional uncertainty. 

“The one thing the American people wanted out of health care reform was lower costs, which the authors of this law promised, but did not deliver.

“According to these economists – this law will increase spending by $1 trillion dollars – that’s ‘at a minimum’ – and add nearly $1.5 trillion to the deficit.

“So if we agree this law needs improving, why would we keep it on the books?

“Why would we keep one hand tied behind our backs when we’re dealing with near 10 percent unemployment and a $14 trillion debt? 

“If we can do better, then let’s do better. 

“Let me be clear about what repealing this health care law means for families, small businesses, and taxpayers:

“Repeal means preventing more than $770 billion in tax hikes and eliminating all the mandates and penalties so that small businesses can grow and hire new workers.

“Repeal means reducing spending by $540 billion, another step in tackling the massive debt that faces our kids and grandkids.

“Repeal means protecting more than 7 million seniors from losing or being denied the Medicare Advantage coverage they like.

“Repeal means paving the way for better solutions that will lower costs without destroying jobs or bankrupting our government.

“And repeal means keeping a promise.

“This is what we said we would do.  We listened to the people – we made a commitment to them – a pledge to make their priorities our priorities. 

“When you look at the facts…  When you listen to the people…  This is a promise worth keeping.

“Let’s stop payment on this check before it can destroy more jobs and put us in an even deeper hole. 

“Then let’s work together to put in place reforms that lower costs without destroying jobs or bankrupting this government. 

“Let’s challenge ourselves to do better.”

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