Free-Market Coalition Sends Letter Urging Support for Legislation to Remove IRS from Obamacare Enforcement

The Taxpayers Protection Alliance has been following the developments out of the IRS scandal for several months now, and everyday we are learning more about the abuse and mismanagement at the agency.  Congress has also been paying close attention and they are also mindful of the concerns the American people have about the increasing power the agency is going to have under Obamacare. There has been a strong sentiment for stopping this IRS power grab before it can start and now Congress is taking action in this fight. Today, the House will vote on H.R. 2009, the Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act of 2013 by Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.). The bill would ensure that the IRS would be unable to participate in enforcement of any provision or amendment contained in Obamacare.  This morning the Taxpayers Protection Alliance was joined by Americans for Tax Reform, Center for Individual Freedom, Independent Women’s Forum, Less Government, and National Taxpayers Union in a coalition letter sent to Congress expressing support for this legislation and urging it’s passage.

Read the letter below: 

August 2, 2013

Rep. Tom Price

100 Cannon House Office Building

Washington, D.C.  20515

Dear Rep. Price,

We the undersigned groups, representing millions of Americans, strongly support your legislation, H.R., 2009, the Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act of 2013. This bill would prohibit the U.S. Treasury Department from enforcing any provision of the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare), ensuring that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) would be removed from implementing or enforcing any component of Obamacare.

The last several months have proven to be an eye opening experience for those who are concerned with the growing power of the federal government, especially the IRS. Repeated and systemic encroachment into the lives of American citizens by targeting the very thing they cherish the most, the freedom of speech, is a cause of great concern among many people from all sides of the political spectrum. It is imperative to take steps to ensure we rein in the power of an organization that has proven to be incapable of handling the authority they have right now with the responsibility and dignity the American people expect. New developments on the unnerving offenses have been uncovered on a regular basis for the last few months and it is time to make certain that the IRS is unable to extend these offenses into the lives of citizens when it comes to their health care.

This legislation makes explicitly clear that the neither the Treasury Department, nor “any delegate” shall have the power to enforce any provision or amendment from Obamacare at anytime going forward as the Administration moves to implement the law. It is paramount that this legislation passes, with overwhelming support, as it is clear that the American people have no desire to have the IRS involved in the decisions they and their families are making when it comes to their health care. We have already seen the consequences of the President’s health care law on premiums and job creation and it would be catastrophic to allow the IRS to contribute to the chaos, considering their recent record of abuses and mismanagement.

The American people deserve to be trusted with their own decision making when it comes to their lives, including their health care choices. The last thing anyone wants is to have an agency they are already afraid of to be granted more.

We thank you for offering this commonsense language and we urge all members of Congress to vote ‘YES’ on H.R. 2009.

Sincerely,

David Williams, President, Taxpayers Protection Alliance

Grover Norquist, President, Americans for Tax Reform

Jeff Mazzella, President, Center for Individual Freedom

Carrie Lukas, Managing Director, Independent Women’s Forum 

Seton Motley, President, Less Government

Pete Sepp, Executive Vice President, National Taxpayers Union