In a letter sent to House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, 33 members of the Repeal Coalition – including Heather R. Higgins of Independent Women's Voice, Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform, and Phil Kerpen of American Commitment – insist Congress, at minimum as part of the continuing resolution and in fiscal negotiations with the White House, delay all 2014 ObamaCare provisions (including mandates, subsidies, and taxes). The signees say the structure at the heart of ObamaCare is simply not ready. (VIEW PDF)
Dear Speaker Boehner & Leader McConnell,
With the clock ticking to open enrollment on October 1, it is abundantly clear to members of the Repeal Coalition that the structure at the heart of PPACA is simply not ready. To help the American people avoid getting hit by what Senator Max Baucus memorably referred to as "a huge train wreck coming down," we the undersigned urge you to insist on, at minimum as part of any final deal, a one-year delay of all 2014 provisions (including mandates, subsidies, and taxes) in the upcoming CR and in fiscal negotiations with the White House.
1. Mandates. The president has already delayed the mandate for the biggest corporations unilaterally, although his legal authority to do so is questionable. Congress should lift the legal cloud on that delay and extend the same relief to individuals and small businesses by delaying the individual mandate. It is wrong to force people to participate in a system that is simply not ready.
2. Subsidies. Without a complete, workable verification system to protect taxpayers it would be reckless to allow tens of billions of taxpayer dollars to flow in subsidies. And there is a real risk that navigators, in their zeal to enroll people, will accidentally or even intentionally induce people to accept subsidies for which they do not qualify, risking steep IRS fines and audits. The money should not flow when the law's verification provisions are not ready to be enforced.
3. Taxes. The American people should not be forced to pay higher taxes for a system that isn't ready.
Kevin Counihan, chief executive of Connecticut's state exchange, has repeatedly said: "I wish we had one more year." With the train wreck coming, millions of Americans feel the same way. We therefore urge you to insist on a one-year delay and we will strongly support all efforts to include one on any long-term continuing resolution, extenders package, or other negotiated budget deal this fall.
Sincerely,
Phil Kerpen, American Commitment
Heather Higgins, Independent Women’s Voice
Grover Norquist, Americans for Tax Reform
James Capretta, Ethics and Public Policy Center
Grace Marie Turner, Galen Institute
Avik Roy, National Review
Colin Hanna, Let Freedom Ring
Ken Hoagland, Restore America’s Voice
Brian Baker, Ending Spending
David Williams, Taxpayers Protection Alliance
Betsy McCaughey, author, Beating Obamacare
Jim Martin, 60 Plus Association
Gregory T. Angelo, Log Cabin Republicans
David Wallace, Restore America’s Mission
Andrew Langer, Institute for Liberty
Penny Nance, Concerned Women for America
Lanhee Chen, Hoover Institution
Chuck Muth, Citizen Outreach Peter Ferrara
Ari Winokur, The Harbour League
Mario H. Lopez, Hispanic Leadership Fund
George Landrith, Frontiers of Freedom
Peter J. Thomas, The Conservative Caucus
Tom Schatz, Citizens Against Government Waste
Eric Novack, Health Freedom Coalition
Brandon Arnold, National Taxpayers Union
Amy Kremer, Tea Party Express
Kerri Toloczko, Beyond Repeal
Kathryn A. Serkes, Doctor Patient Medical Association
Krista Kafer, Colorado Future Project
Seton Motley, Less Government
David McKalip, MD, Doctors for Patient Freedom
Peter Ferrara
Jack Williams, Alabama State Representative
Patrick Randy, Alabama Christian Coalition
Marty Connors, Alabama Center-Right Coalition Chairman
Ron Nehring, San Diego Center-Right Coalition Chairman
Tina Pisenti, Cascade Policy Institute
Jon Nigbor, Consumer Care Corporation
Jack Boyle, Ohio Prosperity Initiative
Darcie Johnston, Vermonters for Healthcare Freedom
Rick Watson, Florida Center-Right Coalition Chairman
Charlie Gerow, Pennsylvania Center-Right Coalition Chairman
David McKalip, MD, St. Petersburg, FL