By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Congressman Jo Bonner (R) from Mobile in his written column announced that he voted in support of legislation which would have delayed provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, PPACA commonly referred to as Obamacare, which would have imposed penalties on individuals, families, and businesses who don’t purchase PPACA approved health insurance policies.
Representative Bonner said, “Last week, the House of Representatives passed twin pieces of legislation delaying one of the most controversial aspects of Obamacare, its mandate to buy health insurance. The House bills, which I supported, delay the health insurance mandate for both individuals and businesses for one year while House lawmakers continue to work for a full repeal of Obamacare.”
Congressman Bonner said, “When campaigning for the passage of his so-called Affordable Care Act, President Obama promised it would live up to its name by providing Americans with affordable coverage while not denying them their choice of care. In the three years since the former Democrat-led Congress passed Obamacare into law, the record reflects a different story. The Kaiser Family Foundation reported that the average cost of family health care premiums has already risen by nearly 25 percent. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that as many as seven million Americans will lose their employer-provided health care. This figure is likely to rise.”
Rep. Bonner warned, “For months, newspapers have sported headlines of small businesses and even local government plans to lay off full-time workers due to the looming costly mandates of Obamacare. The Birmingham News reported last week on a US Chamber of Commerce study revealing that half of the small businesses that will be required to provide insurance under Obamacare have already acknowledged plans ‘to cut employees’ hours or replace full-time workers with part-timers.”
Even the Obama administration allied Teamsters Union have recently acknowledged that the impending implementation of these provisions in Obamacare will result in the turning of millions of full time jobs into part time jobs and have asked the Obama administration to let up.
Rep. Bonner wrote, “Facing growing pressure from businesses, the Obama administration recently announced a delay in the health care coverage mandate for businesses with more than 50 full-time employees, but left ordinary working Americans to shoulder the new mandate or pay a fine. For starters, the White House does not have the legal authority to selectively apply portions of the health care law. Only Congress has that authority. Secondly, there is no fairness in picking winners and losers in whom should carry the burden of an expensive and unpopular health care law.”
Congressman Bonner concluded, “I opposed Obamacare’s passage and voted on May 16, 2013, to repeal it. Until we are able to eliminate Obamacare outright, the House will continue to pursue all options to protect Americans from skyrocketing premiums; from being forced to give up their choice of health coverage; and, seeing many lose their jobs due to Obamacare.”
The Penalty for a person defying the government and not being covered by health insurance the first year is expected to be $95 per adult and $47.50 per child or 1% of household income: whichever is greater. For high income people, that 1% in additional income tax would make the cost of self insuring ridiculously expensive. The job of extorting the money from millions of Americans has been assigned to the IRS.
Millions of other Americans are expected to remain uninsured and pay the penalty. If something does happen to them however they won’t have any insurance to cover unexpected medical costs. Most insurance industry insiders believe that smaller companies will cut out employee insurance rather than purchase the much more expensive Obamacare compliant policies and companies will restrict hours on many employees to cut down the ranks of full time employees. That combined with higher prices could actually increase the number of uninsured persons since the penalty for not having insurance will be far cheaper than the cost of purchasing an Obamacare compliant policy.
President Barack H. Obama continues to hold pep rallies to promote the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and continues to argue that the bill would help more American families than it will hurt.
Congressman Jo Bonner represents Alabama’s First Congressional District. The conservative Republican has announced that he is retiring next month. Alabama Governor Robert Bentley (R) is expected to announce a special election for this fall to find Rep. Bonner’s replacement.
