[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 104 (Friday, July 19, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H4817-H4818]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
OBAMACARE
(Mr. RICE of South Carolina asked and was given permission to address
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. RICE of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, Democratic Senator Max
Baucus was dead-on when he called the
[[Page H4818]]
President's health care law a ``train wreck.'' Its effects are becoming
clear and undeniable. It is stifling economic growth and job creation,
premiums are skyrocketing, and record numbers of employers are delaying
hiring or hiring part time to avoid the employer mandate.
I recently heard from a hardworking small business owner, Sue Lee,
who owns a hardware store in Latta, South Carolina. Since the passage
of ObamaCare, she has seen her insurance premium balloon to more than
$2,100 per month, or $26,000 per year, for three employees. That's
outrageous. How can we expect our small businesses to grow and expand
when they are forced to comply with more and more burdensome Federal
regulation?
I am so glad we have the Federal Government to dictate to we helpless
citizens which coverages we need. We can't be trusted to make that
choice ourselves. How can we expect our small businesses to hire when
they can't afford to buy maternity coverage on every employee,
regardless of their age, mental health coverage on every employee? And
substance abuse coverage on every employee is mandated by this ill-
conceived and poorly drafted law.
The American economy would have already recovered if we could get the
Federal Big Brother out of the way. I'm glad we delayed the employer
and individual mandates, but the only way to relieve this law's
enormous drag on our economy and get hardworking Americans back to work
is full repeal.
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