Dave Camp

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Dold).

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. At this time, I yield 30 seconds to the distinguished Member from Colorado (Mr. Tipton).

Mr. CAMP. At this time, I yield 30 seconds to the distinguished gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar).

Mr. CAMP. At this time, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Florida (Mr. Southerland).

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, this law is overwhelmingly unpopular, and the reason it is is because it is fundamentally flawed. The flaw is that government is being placed at the center of health care decisions that should be made by doctors and families together, not by the government. Look at the other measures that we can use to examine this law. The pricetag of the law has already doubled. It's over $1.8 trillion now. Health care premiums are going up. They're not going down as result of this law. They're going in the other direction. And Americans are losing the insurance they have. And there is a perverse incentive in this bill for employers to drop coverage because it's cheaper for them to pay the tax in the bill. Also, taxes are being raised in general over a half a trillion dollars in this legislation, and 12 of the 21 new taxes in this law hit the middle class. It will make costs expensive for more than 90 percent of the seniors, and it's paid for with budget gimmicks that even the government actuaries say aren't going to work. The Congressional Budget Office has said this law makes job creation harder. What we really need is to have a stronger economy that will help create jobs, but this law makes it harder, according to the CBO. We can't afford that after 41 months of unemployment above 8 percent. This law is bad for workers, bad for families, bad for patients, doctors, and employers. I urge that we repeal this law, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CAMP. How much time is remaining?

Mr. CAMP. At this time, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Nunnelee).

Mr. CAMP. At this time, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn).

Mr. CAMP. I believe three or four.

Mr. CAMP. At this time I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Fleming).

Mr. CAMP. At this time I yield 2 minutes to a distinguished member of the Ways and Means Committee, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Reed).

Mr. CAMP. At this time I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady), the distinguished chairman of the Trade Subcommittee.

Mr. CAMP. I yield the gentleman an additional 15 seconds.

Mr. CAMP. At this time I yield 2 minutes to a distinguished member of the Ways and Means Committee, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Schock).

Mr. CAMP. I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished chairman of the Human Resources Subcommittee, the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Davis).

Mr. CAMP. At this time, Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence). (Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Smith), a distinguished member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. CAMP. I yield 2 minutes to a distinguished member of the Ways and Means Committee, the gentleman from Louisiana, Dr. Boustany.

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. We're here today to repeal a law that is both fundamentally flawed and overwhelmingly unpopular. The problem with this law, among its many faults, is it puts government at the center of health care decisions, not doctors and patients. Instead of families and employers deciding what coverage is best for them, the Secretary of Health and Human Services makes that choice. Instead of families and employers deciding what they can afford to spend on insurance, the IRS makes that decision. Instead of families and employers deciding if they even need or want health insurance in the first place, the government mandates they purchase it. This is all about the government. It is Washington knows best, and it's wrong. By virtually every measure, this law is a failure. The price tag of the law has already doubled, health care premiums are going up, Americans are losing the insurance they have and like, taxes are being raised by over $1.5 trillion, and 12 of the 21 new taxes in the law will hit the middle class. It increases costs for 9 out of 10 seniors. It's paid for with budget gimmicks that even the government's own actuaries admit are not workable. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the law hinders job creation, which is something we can hardly afford after 41 consecutive months of the unemployment rate being above 8 percent. To put it bluntly, this law is bad for workers, seniors, families, patients, doctors, and employers. As the Supreme Court ruled, the cornerstone of the Democrats' health care law, the individual mandate, is a massive tax. The Congressional Budget Office predicts that approximately 20 million Americans will either pay the tax or be forced to buy insurance they otherwise wouldn't have purchased. That's 20 million people. Only two States in the U.S. have more than 20 million people: California and Texas. Clearly, this is a major tax with major implications. Democrats have argued that the individual mandate was necessary to improve the Nation's health. What's next? Will they require you to purchase low-fat or low-salt foods, or will you have to pay a tax because they think it's good for you? House Republicans have heard the American people loud and clear, and we will not let government--let alone the IRS--dictate your health care. We will repeal this law so you're again free to choose your health insurance plan, to choose your doctor, and to choose the medical treatment that best meets your needs. Most important of all, we will ensure you have the freedom to choose what's best for you and your family. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CAMP. I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. CAMP. I would just note that our health care bill was the only bill scored by the Congressional Budget Office that actually reduced the premiums. I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished chairman of the Health Subcommittee, the gentleman from California (Mr. Herger).

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Huizenga).

Mr. CAMP. I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished chairman of the Select Revenue Subcommittee, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Tiberi).

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to a distinguished member of the Ways and Means Committee, the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Black).

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Quayle).