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Foxx Report
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Yesterday the Supreme Court ruled against the plaintiffs in King v. Burwell who argued that only residents of states that set up their own exchanges are entitled to government subsidies to help them pay for their insurance. North Carolina is one of 34 states that did not set up its own insurance exchange and instead relies on the federal marketplace.
For the past two years, my email inbox, mailbox and phone lines have been flooded with reports of cancelled health insurance plans, soaring premiums, increased deductibles and exasperated constituents trying to navigate the confusing Washington bureaucracy that is Obamacare.
Because members of Congress have to buy their health insurance on the exchanges along with millions of other Americans, I experienced these frustrations firsthand after the nightmare of navigating the disastrous Obamacare website. Despite its central promise, the Affordable Care Act has proved to be anything but affordable for many North Carolinians, and today’s Supreme Court decision doesn’t change that fact.
This week the House continued its efforts to minimize the damage caused by Obamacare by passing H.R. 1190, the Protecting Seniors’ Access to Medicare Act. This legislation would repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board, which was created under the president’s health care law and gives a panel of 15 unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats sweeping authority to slash Medicare payments to providers or eliminate payments for certain treatments and procedures altogether.
However, the best approach to solving the multitude of problems resulting from Obamacare is to unite behind a complete repeal of the law and replace it with solutions that lower costs and empower patients to choose the care that’s right for them.
Stopping the EPA’s Regulatory Assault on States
In 2014, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed carbon pollution standards for existing power plants, referred to by the agency as the “Clean Power Plan.” In the rule, EPA interprets a rarely invoked provision of the Clean Air Act, section 111(d), to allow the agency to set mandatory carbon dioxide “goals” for each state’s electricity system. State governors, regulators and other stakeholders have submitted extensive comments raising concerns about the rule.
The EPA is out of touch with the energy needs of Americans, and its unelected bureaucrats too often make decisions without consideration for how those choices will affect people's daily lives. The ‘Clean Power Plan’ rule is yet another example of the EPA’s regulatory overreach.
This week the House passed H.R. 2042, the Ratepayer Protection Act, would allow for timely judicial review of the “Clean Power Plan” standards before states would be required to comply with the rule as well as ensure a state would not be forced to implement a plan that would have a significant adverse effect on its ratepayers.
This legislation puts electric generation back in the hands of states. Instead of overregulating energy production, we need to focus on advancing policies that allow us to utilize our innovative culture to develop new sources of energy and create jobs here at home.
Supreme Court Decision Redefining Marriage
Today the Supreme Court found in favor of the plaintiffs in Obergefell v. Hodges who argued that states are required to license a marriage between two people of the same sex under the 14th Amendment and recognize those marriages performed out-of-state.
Two years ago the Supreme Court insisted that marriage was a policy decision that properly belonged to the states, but today they have imposed a redefinition of marriage nationwide. This decision undermines the ability of states to set public policy within their borders as voters in North Carolina overwhelmingly did in 2012.
I’m also extremely concerned about the threat this ruling poses to the conscience rights of people and organizations who believe that marriage is the union of one man and one woman. I will do everything in my power to defend these rights and protect the sacred institution of marriage.
What’s Coming Up
Next week the House will hold a district work week. As we celebrate our nation’s Independence Day, let us remember that we are able to do so because brave men and women still stand ready to give their last full measure of devotion to the cause of freedom.
Sincerely,
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