Rep. Miller on Senate Finance Committee Health Care Bill

From Rep. Miller's Office

Senate Health Care Bill Will Increase Taxes and Hamper Consumer Choice

Washington, Oct 9 - According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the Senate Finance Committee’s health care mark, like the House health care bill, would mandate health insurance. Specifically, beginning in July 2013, the proposal would establish a requirement for individuals to obtain insurance and would in many cases impose a financial penalty on people who did not do so. Moreover, the Senate mark would allow the government to decide what health care insurance policies are acceptable, thereby limiting consumer choices and increasing government intrusion in personal decisions. Although CBO estimates the modified Senate Finance Committee healthcare overhaul bill would cost $829 billion over 10 years and will decrease the deficit by $81 billion, this is accomplished by raising taxes by $500 billion on employers and those who already have insurance, as well as by cutting Medicare and Medicaid benefits by over $400 billion. Furthermore, according to CBO and the Joint Committee on Taxation, at least 71 percent of the individual mandate tax penalties in the Senate Finance bill would be levied on Americans earning less than $250,000. Congressman Miller is deeply concerned about Congressional health care proposals that increase taxes and slash benefits for our nation’s seniors and will continue to fight for effective health care solutions.