TPA Joins Coalition Supporting Legislation to Delay Obamacare

It has been increasingly obvious that the implementation of Obamacare has been a disaster and a ‘train wreck’, as characterized by Senator Max Baucus (D-Mont.). Rate increases, transparency issues, and abuses of authority have all now been in some way either a part of or a major concern for the implementation.  Taxpayers, consumers, and businesses are all feeling the squeeze when it comes to the regulatory burden and additional costs associated with the law. The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) has been involved in multiple efforts to fight against Obamacare and this week, led by Americans for Tax Reform, TPA was proud to sign a letter with other like-minded organizations to support both H.R. 2809, sponsored by Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.); and S. 1490, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.). These bills would “delay the upcoming harmful provisions of Obamacare, and would suspend all of Obamacare’s costly tax increases on families and small employers.” The fact of the matter is that President Obama and his Administration have selectively enforced the law thus far, announced targeted delays to businesses, and granted special exemptions to certain interests. Obamacare should be delayed in full so that Americans don’t see their taxes raised; individuals aren’t forced to buy insurance they can’t afford; and subsidies are not blindly provided without proper means of verification.

Read the full letter here:

September 13, 2013

The Honorable Marsha Blackburn

U.S. House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Jeff Flake

United States Senate

Washington, DC 20510

Dear Congressman Blackburn and Senator Flake:

We, the undersigned groups and free market leaders stand in strong support of your legislation to delay the worst provisions of the Obamacare law. Your bills (H.R. 2809 and S. 1490, respectively) delay the upcoming harmful provisions of Obamacare, and would suspend all of Obamacare’s costly tax increases on families and small employers. We would urge all Members of Congress to co-sponsor your legislation.

H.R. 2809/S. 1490 would delay, for one year, all Obamacare provisions that are set to go into effect in 2014. These include:

• The individual mandate and its costly surtax for non-compliance
• The employer mandate, which the President has already delayed without authority
• Medicaid expansions which taxpayers cannot afford
• The new Obamacare “exchanges” and all their subsidies to get people to enroll
• The dozens of new enforcement powers which Obamacare gives to the IRS

In addition, H.R. 2809/S. 1490 would suspend all of the tax increases contained in Obamacare. There are 20 new or higher taxes contained in Obamacare, and most of them have already gone into effect. Taxes which would be suspended include:

• The 3.8 percentage point surtax on savers, investors, and successful small employers
• New tax hikes on workplace “flex accounts” and health savings accounts
• The high medical bills tax, which falls mostly on families making less than $90,000 per year
• The medical device tax, which raises the cost of durable medical equipment
• New taxes on prescription medicines, charitable hospitals, and a host of other health sector goods and services

Our goal remains to fully repeal, defund, and/or delay Obamacare. We’re for whatever it takes. Your legislation is a great weapon to have in the arsenal as we work toward ending the unpopular Obamacare law.

Sincerely,

Grover Norquist, Americans for Tax Reform

Heather Higgins, Independent Womens’ Voice

Steven J. Duffield, Crossroads GPS

Avik Roy, Manhattan Institute

Phil Kerpen, American Commitment

Brandon Arnold, National Taxpayers Union

David Williams, Taxpayers Protection Alliance

Ken Hoagland, Restore America’s Voice

Penny Nance, Concerned Women for America

Peter Ferrara, National Center for Policy Analysis

Amy Kremer, Tea Party Express

Jim Martin, 60 Plus Association

Gregory T. Angelo, Log Cabin Republicans

George Landrith, Frontiers of Freedom

Dr. Juliette Madrigal-Dersch, AAPS

Brian Baker, Ending Spending

Eric Novack, M.D., U.S. Health Freedom Coalition

David Wallace, Restore America’s Mission