[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 117 (Monday, September 9, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H5410]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
USE POWER OF THE PURSE TO STOP OBAMACARE
(Mr. BURGESS asked and was given permission to address the House for
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, how do Yucca Mountain, Iran Contra, and
the Vietnam War relate to the Affordable Care Act? All of those
represent legislative limitations of funding to counter decisions made
by the executive branch. In each instance, Congress used its authority
provided under the Constitution to place limits on Presidential
decisions. We need to use those constitutional powers again.
The Affordable Care Act is lurching toward an uncertain start and is
dramatically different than what was signed into law over 3 years ago.
Gone are the CLASS Act and the 1099 business activity reporting
requirement. What about the Federal preexisting program? It hasn't
accepted a new patient since February of this year.
How unfair is it that the large corporations in this country received
an 11th-hour Presidential exemption and Members of Congress receive a
subsidy? None of this is available to the average American.
I look at all of this and I ask: What tools are available to prevent
this disaster? And the answer is provided in the historical record when
previous Congresses used the one trump card they have available. All
that is required is the courage and the clarity of vision to alter
history.
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