Iowa delegation splits, 3-2, on health care bill

The three Democrats in Iowa’s congressional delegation — Bruce Braley of Waterloo, Dave Loebsack of Mount Vernon & Leonard Boswell of Des Moines — just voted for the senate bill.  The two Republicans in the congressional delegation — Tom Latham of Ames & Steve King of Kiron — voted against it.  Here’s the roll call on the 219-212 vote.

Four of the five congressmen from Iowa spoke with Radio Iowa this weekend about the vote.  Read the Radio Iowa story. Congressman Loebsack was the only one of the five who did not.  Loebsack’s spokeswoman said: “We are not planning on doing press calls.”

UPDATE:  Here are all the statements (after the jump) sent via email from members of congress, their challengers, the two political parties & other groups involved in the health care debate:

9:48 p.m. 3/21/10 DES MOINES  –  Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Matt Strawn issued the following statement on today’s passage of health insurance legislation by the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Instead of working for bipartisan reforms that most Iowans could support, Iowa’s congressional Democrats chose a partisan approach that amounts to a staggering, half-a-trillion dollar cost to the American taxpayer while giving the federal government an unprecedented amount of control over personal health care decisions.

“The blatant disregard shown for the opinions of everyday Iowans who oppose this partisan bill is offensive enough, but it is unconscionable for Congressmen Boswell, Braley and Loebsack to force another $562 billion in debt on our children and grandchildren.”

9:54 p.m. 3/21/10 WASHINGTON, DC – Iowa Congressman Tom Latham issued the following statement on Sunday after voting against the Democrat majority’s government takeover of health care:

“The overwhelming lesson learned from tonight’s vote is that Washington has no interest in listening to the American people.  Iowans have made it clear their top health care priority is lower health insurance premiums and lower health care costs without threatening their own access to health care.  Not one provision in the thousands of pages of the Democrat bill will lower premiums or costs by a single penny.  Instead this bill imposes new taxes, fees and iron-fisted federal mandates on health care providers, employers and citizens during the most uncertain economic times in a generation.  Americans deserve better from their leaders in Washington.”

9:59 p.m. (Marion, IA)  March 21, 2010  “Today, Congressman Dave Loebsack voted against the clear wishes of his constituents by supporting a legislative bag of tricks to pass the healthcare plan Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and Barrack Obama want to impose on the American people.

Far from meeting President Obama’s stated goals of reducing health care costs, this plan will create the greatest expansion of entitlements ever undertaken.  While the Democratic leadership in Washington talks about how this plan could reduce the deficit, they don’t explain that this is not done through cost savings.  Instead, there is a massive new government bureaucracy planned which will raise a multitude of taxes.  Any healthcare plan that includes hiring thousands of IRS agents cannot be a good thing.

It is not by accident that most of the innovation in health care happens in the United States because we are different than the rest of the world.  We are better!  We encourage innovation, which drives improvement.   The health care bill Dave Loebsack voted for today will kill innovation.  It will push the best and brightest doctors out of medicine.  It will result in a much lower level of care for future generations.

Loebsack, Obama, Pelosi and Reid have framed the debate in terms that suggest those who do not support their bill prefer the status quo.  This is misinformed at best and a lie at worst.  There are alternative ideas that will strengthen America’s healthcare system.  These alternatives will not sell out America’s core values as the plan voted on today will.  Alternative ideas include:  individual ownership of our healthcare plans which provides portability; allowing competition across state lines; tort reform; and Health Savings Accounts which actually give consumers incentive to be good stewards of their healthcare dollars.

In reality, this healthcare fight is a small battle in a war of differing world views.  In the Obama, Pelosi, Reid and Loebasck world view, the great American experiment is a failure.  They don’t believe Americans are smart enough to make good decisions.  Personally, I believe in American Exceptionalism. I believe in the people. Our founders had great wisdom in knowing that rights cannot be legislated, but instead come from our Creator.  They further understood that liberty is freedom to make decisions for ourselves and our families.

We must stop this progressive view in its tracks, or we compromise the very foundation that makes the United States the great country it is.  America is exceptional, but our generation and our current politicians have not been good stewards of that “Exceptionalism.”

10:01 p.m. 3/21/10 Des Moines: State Senator Jack Hatch of Des Moines tonight applauded the passage of comprehensive health care legislation in the United States House of Representatives.

“Now that federal reform has passed, I intend to work just as hard to make sure that Iowa’s health care initiative, SF 2356, becomes law this spring.  The bill now before the Iowa House will help keep our state a national leader in high quality, affordable health care, especially when it comes to our children and improving access for rural residents,” said Hatch.

“The passage of federal health care reform is an historic step forward for families in Iowa,” said Hatch, “I am proud to stand with the more than 1,000 other state legislators from around our great nation who worked together over the past year to support health care reform.  State legislators have long been on the front lines of the battle for better, more accessible and more affordable health care for their constituents, and their leadership was critical to making this victory for American families possible.”

Hatch, who has worked with the White House as Chair of the Working Group of State Legislators for Health Reform, organized an 86-member group of state legislators from around the country.  The group has worked with the Progressive States Network (PSN) for the past 10 months for passage of meaningful legislation.

10:04 p.m. 3/21/10 WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Steve King (R-IA) tonight made the following statement following the passage of the liberal health care bill.

“The majority of Americans, including the tens of thousands of patriots who poured into Washington, DC this weekend, will not stand by while Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi tear the Constitution to shreds. This bill forces Americans to pay for other people’s abortions, puts the government in charge of 18 percent of our private sector economy, provides health care benefits to illegal immigrants, cuts half a trillion dollars from Medicare and diminishes our liberty.

“Americans across the country are outraged that liberals have made an unconstitutional bill full of special interest bribes the law of the land. Democrats will pay a price for their overreach. This fight is far from over. Now the work begins to repeal this monstrosity and restore the principles of freedom that made America a great nation.”

10:17 p.m. 3/21/10 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) issued the following statement after the U.S. House passed the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010.  With this vote, comprehensive health reform has passed and will go to President Obama for his signature.  The reconciliation package now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration next week.  Harkin is Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

“With this vote today, the House took a major step forward in the fight to put American families and small business owners—not the insurance companies—in control of their own health care.

“This legislation makes the Senate-passed comprehensive bill even stronger by providing coverage to some 95 percent of Americans.  This will be affordable coverage, which will save thousands of lives and give peace of mind to those who have coverage now, but have a 50/50 chance of losing coverage in the next decade.  It will provide relief from skyrocketing and unstable premiums and holds insurance companies accountable to keep premiums down and prevent denials of care and coverage, including for pre-existing conditions.

“I am particularly encouraged that in passing comprehensive reform, we will, for the first time make an historic investment in prevention and public health to change our current sick care system into a true health care system.  These reforms will truly bend the cost curve and rein in rising health care costs.

“And we provide all of these reforms while also reducing the deficit by $138 billion over next ten years, and by $1.2 trillion more over the following decade; reducing waste, fraud and abuse, paying for quality over quantity of care.

“With the reconciliation package, the Senate is also on track to enact one of President Obama’s key education priorities – a move that will make college more affordable and accessible.  The measure eliminates billions of dollars in wasteful subsidies to banks and redirects that money to students and families in the form of increased Pell Grants to low-income college students, putting the priorities of students and families ahead of subsidies to lenders.

“We are on the cusp of history in this country.  I congratulate Speaker Pelosi and House leaders on this historic achievement and look forward to working in the Senate to get a final bill to the President’s desk as soon as possible.”

10:17 p.m. 3/21/10 Marion, IA – Christopher Reed, Candidate for U.S. House of Representatives 2nd District, responded to today’s historic healthcare reform vote by stating, “Today, common sense has been thrown to the wolves. Partisan politics and a radical agenda have hijacked the people of this country and grabbed control of a portion of our economy that is greater than the entire GDP of Great Britain. “

Reed added, “By voting yes on this outrageous health control plan, my opponent, incumbent Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-IA), has demonstrated his contempt for the decent people of Iowa. Mr. Loebsack has vehemently stated that he cares more about himself and his party than the future generations of our country.”

“As freedom-loving Americans, we inherently know it is not right to forfeit liberties and delegate unnecessary authority to a totalitarian regime. As freedom-loving Americans, we came together and in one unified voice cried out “No More”. As freedom-loving Americans, we must remain diligent and continue to fight for our freedoms and liberties. I applaud all Americans who stood in the gap these past few months and demanded representation by contacting their elected officials and reminding them that ‘We the People’ are in charge.”
Reed continues, “When I am elected to Congress in November 2010, I will fight to rescind this bill, as it violates the 10th Amendment to the United States Constitution. I will stand with the new Governor of Iowa to ensure that all Iowans continue to be free and their unalienable rights are no longer tread upon by those in Washington D.C. “

10:37 p.m. 3/21/10 Washington, DC – Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) released the following statement today after voting to pass the Senate Health Care bill and House reconciliation package.  Yesterday, Braley and a core group of other Representatives were able to achieve a major breakthrough in Medicare reimbursement policy that secured his vote for the bills.

“One of my biggest priorities has been fighting to fix unfair and inefficient geographic differences, and reform the Medicare system to one that pays Iowa’s medical professionals for the high-quality, low-cost health care they currently provide. Just yesterday, we achieved a major breakthrough in reforming our Medicare reimbursement system. I’m proud to say that the House bill will finally fix these inequities, move us to a better reimbursement model that emphasizes quality over quantity, and help recruit well-qualified health-care providers to Iowa.

“This bill will decrease health insurance costs, expand access to quality, affordable health care, improve reimbursements for Iowa medical providers and allow Americans to maintain their choice of health insurance. This legislation will provide much-needed relief for thousands of businesses in Iowa’s First District and will reduce our deficit by more than $143 billion over the next 10 years and $1.2 trillion in the 10 years after that. After reading the bill, listening to my constituents and debating the bill’s provisions in Congress, I’m convinced this legislation is good for Iowa.”

In Iowa’s First District, the health care reform package voted upon tonight will:

• Improve coverage for 394,000 residents with health insurance.

• Give tax credits and other assistance to up to 156,000 families and 14,000 small businesses to help them afford coverage.

• Improve Medicare for 102,000 beneficiaries, including closing the donut hole.

• Extend coverage to 16,000 uninsured residents.

• Guarantee that 6,500 residents with pre-existing conditions can obtain coverage.

• Protect 700 families from bankruptcy due to unaffordable health care costs.

• Allow 50,000 young adults to obtain coverage on their parents’ insurance plans.

• Provide millions of dollars in new funding for 11 community health centers.

• Reduce the cost of uncompensated care for hospitals and other health care providers by $54 million annually.

10:33 p.m. 3/21/10 Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Leonard Boswell voted for and the House passed H.R. 4872, the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act, in a major step forward toward making health care coverage more affordable, accessible, and stable for Iowa’s families, small business owners, and seniors.

“After years of fighting for a health care system that puts patients before profits, I voted today for legislation that levels the playing field for all Iowans by holding the health insurance industry accountable and preventing denials of care and coverage, including for preexisting conditions,” Boswell said. “I voted to make health insurance more affordable for the middle class and small businesses and to finally put American families and businesses in control of their own health care.”

H.R. 4872 will have immediate benefits within the first year of enactment.

“Iowans will begin to see improvements in the health care system almost immediately after H.R. 4872 is signed into law,” Boswell said. “Small businesses will be offered tax credits to cover their employees’ health insurance. Seniors who fall into the Medicare Part D donut hole in 2010 will automatically receive a $250 rebate. Within six months of enactment, children will no longer be denied coverage for preexisting conditions and parents will be allowed to keep their children on their coverage plans up to their 26th birthday.”

This legislation will also begin to remedy the disparity in Medicare reimbursement payments to Iowa’s doctors and hospitals. “As a member of the congressional Quality Care Coalition that negotiated for fair reimbursements throughout the legislative process, my vote today will begin an important process to start paying Iowa doctors for the care they provide not the number of services they conduct,” Boswell said. “The House reform bill will begin paying doctors and hospitals more fairly by increasing their base pay in the Medicare payment system. By ensuring fair payments for our providers, we will improve access for our health care consumers and continue to create a more efficient and value-based system for Iowans.”

Additionally, this legislation creates a system of state-based health insurance exchanges, based on what is currently offered to federal government employees, which allow small business owners, the uninsured, and the underinsured to view a menu of insurance options and select a plan that is affordable and meets their needs.
Other important provisions in H.R. 4872 include: No denial of coverage for preexisting conditions for everyone by 2014; No cancelling policies of people who get sick; Rebates and prescription drug discounts for seniors to close the Medicare Part D donut hole; and Health care tax credits for those who meet certain income thresholds.

H.R. 4872 will also reduce the deficit by $138 billion over the next 10 years and by $1.2 trillion more over the following decade by reining in waste, fraud and abuse, and paying for the quality not quantity of care.

10:45 p.m. 3/21/10 WASHINGTON – Congressman Dave Loebsack issued the following statement on House passage of the final health care reform package.

“This health care bill will put patients over insurance company profits, and reverse the increasingly disturbing trends in our health care system. This bill ends the worst insurance industry practices, and takes steps towards giving Iowans with insurance, as well as those without insurance, the piece of mind that comes with having stable, quality health care.

“With the cost saving measures included in this bill, and the Medicare agreement that I was able to help secure yesterday, we are taking serious strides towards reigning in exploding health care costs and giving taxpayers more for their money.

“The Medicare agreement will finally shift our nation’s health care system to one in which patients receive quality care, and health care providers are rewarded for making patients healthy. By securing this agreement, we move America towards the fiscal responsibility and efficiency that makes Iowa a model for fundamental reform. This change to the Medicare payment system is the right thing to do, and I am proud that I was able to help Iowa patients and America’s taxpayers finally get a fair deal.

“This bill is not perfect and the process that has been chosen is not perfect either. However, I cannot tell the Iowans who attended my town halls, called my office, and emailed me asking for reform, that I did not vote for this bill because I had concerns about the process. And I certainly cannot tell my constituents that I chose to bend to the political ploys and distortions that are being perpetuated about this complex bill instead of standing up for Iowa families. Despite my qualms with some provisions contained in the bill and the road that led to this evening’s vote, I cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

“This evening I voted for the 416,000 Iowans in the district whose insurance will be strengthened, the 156,000 families and the 13,700 small businesses that will receive tax credits and assistance, the 95,000 Iowans who will receive better treatment through Medicare, the 54,000 young adults who will be able to remain on their parent’s insurance plans, and for my children and grandchildren, whose stake in the national deficit will be reduced by $130 billion over the next ten years. Today, I cast my vote for the Second District of Iowa.”

10:50 p.m. 3/21/10 Statement from Brad Zaun, Republican for Congress IA-03

“The same government that pays a hundred dollars for a hammer is now in charge of our health care system.  In the long run, costs will
rise, regulation will rise and access to health care will be delayed.
This is the lesson from every country in the world that has allowed
government bureaucrats to run health care.  Congressman Boswell will understand the people’s dissatisfaction and outrage at the ballot box this November. The next Congress, of which I hope to be a part of, will need to return power to patients and doctors.”

10:54 p.m. 3/21/10 OFA-Iowa Director Shira Miller Lauds Passage of Historic Health Insurance Reform; Landmark legislation will end abusive practices by insurance industry, extend coverage to 32 million Americans, reduce cost of care for families and businesses

Organizing for America (OFA)-Iowa Director Shira Miller released the following statement today regarding the U.S House of Representatives’ passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590) and Reconciliation Act of 2010 (H.R. 4872):
“Today, President Obama and Congressional leaders scored a major victory for middle-class families and the small businesses that are the engine of our economy. Thanks to their leadership—and the efforts of millions of citizens who made phone calls and engaged in critical discussions in communities across the country—the U.S. House of Representatives has now passed one of the most significant and sweeping health insurance reform measures in our nation’s history. After decades of effort and a year of substantive debate, the decisive vote made by Members of Congress this afternoon will effectively end the worst and most abusive practices of insurance companies; extend coverage to 32 million more people; guarantee families and businesses have more control over their health care choices; and ensure all Americans see our health care costs fall.

“The impact of this historic bill will be felt immediately by millions of Americans. Insurance companies will no longer be permitted to deny coverage to children and adults due to a pre-existing condition. Insurance companies will no longer be permitted to kick students off of their parent’s health insurance when they reach the age of 26. And insurance companies will no longer be permitted to drop insurance for hard-working people all across the country because they get sick.
“We have much to be proud of—and even more to look forward to in the coming weeks and months. Health reform will create 4 million jobs and reduce our national deficit by $130 billion dollars over the next decade alone. At the same time, by passing reform—succeeding where so many others before us have failed despite their best efforts—we are keeping this country moving in the right direction and setting ourselves on the path to future prosperity.

“On this historic and momentous day, OFA-Iowa supporters join Iowans in thanking President Obama and Congress for their leadership—and for ensuring quality, affordable health care is a reality for every American.”

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Reconciliation Act of 2010, which are expected to be signed into law by President Obama within days, will offer immediate benefits to millions of Americans through key provisions including:
SMALL BUSINESS TAX CREDITS—Offers tax credits to small businesses to make employee coverage more affordable.  Tax credits of up to 35 percent of premiums will be immediately available to firms that choose to offer coverage.  Effective beginning for calendar year 2010.  (Beginning in 2014, the small business tax credits will cover 50 percent of premiums.)
BEGINS TO CLOSE THE MEDICARE PART D DONUT HOLE—Provides a $250 rebate to Medicare beneficiaries who hit the donut hole in 2010.  Effective for calendar year 2010.  (Beginning in 2011, institutes a 50% discount on brand‐name drugs in the donut hole; also completely closes the donut hole by 2020.)
FREE PREVENTIVE CARE UNDER MEDICARE—Eliminates co‐payments for preventive services and exempts preventive services from deductibles under the Medicare program.  Effective beginning January 1, 2011.
HELP FOR EARLY RETIREES—Creates a temporary re‐insurance program (until the Exchanges are available) to help offset the costs of expensive premiums for employers and retirees for health benefits for retirees age 55‐64.  Effective 90 days after enactment.
ENDS RESCISSIONS—Bans insurance companies from dropping people from coverage when they get sick.  Effective 6 months after enactment.
NO DISCRIMINATION AGAINST CHILDREN WITH PRE‐EXISTING CONDITIONS—Prohibits new health plans in all markets plus grandfathered group health plans from denying coverage to children with pre‐existing conditions.  Effective 6 months after enactment.  (Beginning in 2014, this prohibition would apply to all persons.)
BANS LIFETIME LIMITS ON COVERAGE—Prohibits health insurance companies from placing lifetime caps on coverage.  Effective 6 months after enactment.
BANS RESTRICTIVE ANNUAL LIMITS ON COVERAGE—Tightly restricts the use of annual limits to ensure access to needed care in all new plans and grandfathered group health plans.  These tight restrictions will be defined by HHS.  Effective 6 months after enactment.  (Beginning in 2014, the use of any annual limits would be prohibited for all new plans and grandfathered group health plans.)
FREE PREVENTIVE CARE UNDER NEW PRIVATE PLANS—Requires new private plans to cover preventive services with no co‐payments and with preventive services being exempt from deductibles.  Effective 6 months after enactment.
NEW, INDEPENDENT APPEALS PROCESS—Ensures consumers in new plans have access to an effective internal and external appeals process to appeal decisions by their health insurance plan.  Effective 6 months after enactment.
ENSURING VALUE FOR PREMIUM PAYMENTS—Requires plans in the individual and small group market to spend 80 percent of premium dollars on medical services, and plans in the large group market to spend 85 percent.  Insurers that do not meet these thresholds must provide rebates to policyholders.  Effective on January 1, 2011.
IMMEDIATE HELP FOR THE UNINSURED UNTIL EXCHANGE IS AVAILABLE (INTERIM HIGH‐RISK POOL)—Provides immediate access to affordable insurance for Americans who are uninsured because of a pre‐existing condition ‐ through a temporary subsidized high‐risk pool.  Effective 90 days after enactment.
EXTENDS COVERAGE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE UP TO 26TH BIRTHDAY THROUGH PARENTS’ INSURANCE – Requires new health plans and certain grandfathered plans to allow young people up to their 26th birthday to remain on their parents’ insurance policy, at the parents’ choice.  Effective 6 months after enactment.
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS—Increases funding for Community Health Centers to allow for nearly a doubling of the number of patients seen by the centers over the next 5 years.  Effective beginning in fiscal year 2010.
INCREASING NUMBER OF PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS—Provides new investment in training programs to increase the number of primary care doctors, nurses, and public health professionals.  Effective beginning in fiscal year 2010.
PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SALARY—Prohibits group health plans from establishing any eligibility rules for health care coverage that have the effect of discriminating in favor of higher wage employees.  Effective 6 months after enactment.
HEALTH INSURANCE CONSUMER INFORMATION—Provides aid to states in establishing offices of health insurance consumer assistance in order to help individuals with the filing of complaints and appeals.  Effective beginning in FY 2010.
CREATES NEW, VOLUNTARY, PUBLIC LONG‐TERM CARE INSURANCE PROGRAM—Creates a long‐term care insurance program to be financed by voluntary payroll deductions to provide home and community-based services to adults who become functionally disabled.  Effective on January 1, 2011.

11:36 p.m. 3/21/10: Op-Ed from Jim Gibbons, Republican candidate in Iowa’s third congressional district

Yesterday, Congressman Alcee Hastings (D-FL) said of Congressional House rules “we make them up as we go along.”  That statement certainly underlines the last 13 months of the health care debate.  In Washington D.C. on Sunday night and under the cover of darkness, House Democrats, along with Leonard Boswell and Nancy Pelosi, passed a health care reform bill filled with kickbacks and back room deals.  My friends, the process in Washington D.C. is broken.  It is time for a new way forward.

Never before has our government been hijacked by such an out-of-touch group of people as we have serving us today.  For example, in an effort to bolster support of the bill in a struggling economy, Nancy Pelosi said that this bill would create jobs, stimulate small business, and pave the way for economic recovery.   Indeed, she is correct, as 16,500 IRS jobs are being created to collect newly-levied taxes upon the American people.  Pelosi and Boswell are in fact creating jobs – government jobs.  The losers in this health care debacle are those American firms that truly create wealth in this country.

When I have visited small and large businesses throughout this district, one thing is clear: there is fear in the marketplace.  Businesses that have capital and can invest are waiting on the sidelines because entrepreneurs and business leaders have a growing lack of trust in what is happening in Washington.  As regulation upon regulation is heaped upon them, as has been done with this health care bill, businesses become insecure about the future.  We must restore faith to our firms.  I want to put the trust back in the hands of business leaders who are responsible for making payroll every two weeks and not Washington politicians.

Throughout the debate on health care we were promised there would be transparency, that everyone would have time to read and understand the legislation before it was voted on.  But there are multiple versions of the health care bill and no one seems to know which parts will be put in to law and what parts have to be taken out with a “fix-it” bill.  The truth about this bill, which should be factual and obvious, is instead opaque and elusive.  That promise of transparency was broken by the liberals in Washington and by my Congressman, Leonard Boswell.

Back room deals have dominated this health care debacle. The “Cornhusker Kickback,” the “Louisiana Purchase,” and private rides on Air Force One at taxpayer expense were all used to convince representatives to abandon their constituent’s wishes and vote on a bill America doesn’t want and can’t afford.  If the Government is going to return to the people then politicians in Washington must stop hiding behind expensive taxpayer funded kickbacks and shady deals. We need accountability and transparency in Washington, not Chicago-style politics.

My friends, it is time to send tough-minded people to Washington who will be honest with the American people.  We Americans are a resilient people who demand honesty and integrity in our leaders.  Tonight, as politicians back-slapped each other, leadership was lacking and the American people were failed.   It is time for a new way forward.

5:03 a.m. 3/22/10  Dave Funk, Republican candidate in Iowa’s third congressional district:  Congress has failed us again on healthcare

Leonard Boswell and the Democrats in Washington have force fed the American people more unconstitutional legislation that is bad for Iowa. This takeover of our health insurance system is unconstitutional and infringes on the rights of citizens by mandating the purchase of a service. This legislation as been pushed through behind closed doors and it violates the public trust of each and every citizen, who deserves the chance to see it in the full light of day. The taxes which will start immediately will do more harm to an already weakened economy and do further damage to businesses everywhere.

“I call on each and every elected Republican to lead the charge to repeal this bill before it can fully take effect in 2013. I will press for legislation which returns every dollar, with interest, that has been unconstitutionally taken from the people and businesses of our country.” Dave said “If we want to establish our credibility as limited government conservatives once again we need candidates leading the charge who will fight for you and I will go to Washington to return that power to the people.”

9:01 a.m. 3/22/10 DES MOINES, IA – Iowa Democratic Party Chair Michael Kiernan today released this statement following the historic vote by the U.S. House of Representatives to pass comprehensive health insurance reform.

“Today we made history.  President Obama and Democrats in Congress achieved what Presidents since Teddy Roosevelt have attempted – to pass comprehensive health insurance reform to help the American people.  This is a victory for all Iowans. With this landmark legislation, we will have a health care system that works for Iowans, not insurance companies.

“Health insurance reform will provide unprecedented protections for every American consumer and will put health care decisions back into the hands of families, not insurance companies. American families will feel the impact of this legislation immediately.  Insurance companies will no longer be permitted to deny coverage to children and adults due to a pre-existing condition. Insurance companies will no longer be permitted to kick students off of their parent’s health insurance when they reach the age of 26. And insurance companies will no longer be permitted to drop insurance for hard-working people all across the country because they get sick.
“This legislation is the single greatest deficit reduction package since President Clinton’s 1993 budget, which ushered in an era of budget surpluses and economic growth.  It will reduce the deficit by over a trillion dollars in the next twenty years and put us back on a path to fiscal responsibility, all while providing coverage to 95 percent of all Americans.

“Today, Iowans thank President Obama and Iowa Democrats like Congressmen Braley, Loebsack and Boswell for their strong leadership, commitment to the middle class and continued work to make America a better place.  This reform will better the lives of millions of Americans, and for that Democrats should be commended.”

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Reconciliation Act of 2010, which are expected to be signed into law by President Obama within days, will offer immediate benefits to millions of Americans through key provisions including:

1.      SMALL BUSINESS TAX CREDITS—Offers tax credits to small businesses to make employee coverage more affordable.  Tax credits of up to 35 percent of premiums will be immediately available to firms that choose to offer coverage.  Effective beginning for calendar year 2010.  (Beginning in 2014, the small business tax credits will cover 50 percent of premiums.)

2.      BEGINS TO CLOSE THE MEDICARE PART D DONUT HOLE—Provides a $250 rebate to Medicare beneficiaries who hit the donut hole in 2010.  Effective for calendar year 2010.  (Beginning in 2011, institutes a 50% discount on brand-name drugs in the donut hole; also completely closes the donut hole by 2020.)

3.      FREE PREVENTIVE CARE UNDER MEDICARE—Eliminates co-payments for preventive services and exempts preventive services from deductibles under the Medicare program.  Effective beginning January 1, 2011.

4.      HELP FOR EARLY RETIREES—Creates a temporary re-insurance program (until the Exchanges are available) to help offset the costs of expensive premiums for employers and retirees for health benefits for retirees age 55-64.  Effective 90 days after enactment.

5.      ENDS RESCISSION—Bans insurance companies from dropping people from coverage when they get sick.  Effective 6 months after enactment.

6.      NO DISCRIMINATION AGAINST CHILDREN WITH PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS—Prohibits new health plans in all markets plus grandfathered group health plans from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions.  Effective 6 months after enactment.  (Beginning in 2014, this prohibition would apply to all persons.)

7.      BANS LIFETIME LIMITS ON COVERAGE—Prohibits health insurance companies from placing lifetime caps on coverage.  Effective 6 months after enactment.

8.      BANS RESTRICTIVE ANNUAL LIMITS ON COVERAGE—Tightly restricts the use of annual limits to ensure access to needed care in all new plans and grandfathered group health plans.  These tight restrictions will be defined by HHS.  Effective 6 months after enactment.  (Beginning in 2014, the use of any annual limits would be prohibited for all new plans and grandfathered group health plans.)

9.      FREE PREVENTIVE CARE UNDER NEW PRIVATE PLANS—Requires new private plans to cover preventive services with no co-payments and with preventive services being exempt from deductibles.  Effective 6 months after enactment.

10.  NEW, INDEPENDENT APPEALS PROCESS—Ensures consumers in new plans have access to an effective internal and external appeals process to appeal decisions by their health insurance plan.  Effective 6 months after enactment.

11.  ENSURING VALUE FOR PREMIUM PAYMENTS—Requires plans in the individual and small group market to spend 80 percent of premium dollars on medical services, and plans in the large group market to spend 85 percent.  Insurers that do not meet these thresholds must provide rebates to policyholders.  Effective on January 1, 2011.

12.  IMMEDIATE HELP FOR THE UNINSURED UNTIL EXCHANGE IS AVAILABLE (INTERIM HIGH-RISK POOL)—Provides immediate access to affordable insurance for Americans who are uninsured because of a pre-existing condition – through a temporary subsidized high-risk pool.  Effective 90 days after enactment.

13.  EXTENDS COVERAGE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE UP TO 26TH BIRTHDAY THROUGH PARENTS’ INSURANCE – Requires new health plans and certain grandfathered plans to allow young people up to their 26th birthday to remain on their parents’ insurance policy, at the parents’ choice.  Effective 6 months after enactment.

14.  COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS—Increases funding for Community Health Centers to allow for nearly a doubling of the number of patients seen by the centers over the next 5 years.  Effective beginning in fiscal year 2010.

15.  INCREASING NUMBER OF PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS—Provides new investment in training programs to increase the number of primary care doctors, nurses, and public health professionals.  Effective beginning in fiscal year 2010.

16.  PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SALARY—Prohibits group health plans from establishing any eligibility rules for health care coverage that have the effect of discriminating in favor of higher wage employees.  Effective 6 months after enactment.

17.  HEALTH INSURANCE CONSUMER INFORMATION—Provides aid to states in establishing offices of health insurance consumer assistance in order to help individuals with the filing of complaints and appeals.  Effective beginning in FY 2010.

18.  CREATES NEW, VOLUNTARY, PUBLIC LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE PROGRAM—Creates a long-term care insurance program to be financed by voluntary payroll deductions to provide home and community-based services to adults who become functionally disabled.  Effective on January 1, 2011.

9:15 a.m. 3/22/10 STATEMENT FROM RNC CHAIRMAN MICHAEL STEELE ON IOWA DEMOCRAT VOTES FOR GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE

WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele released the following statement regarding the passage of the Democrats’ $2.5 trillion government-run health care experiment:

“Iowans have plenty of reason to be disappointed today, as Iowa Democrats chose to continue siding with the liberal leaders in Washington and support this government takeover of health care.  Iowa Democrats should be ashamed to have been part of this partisan trickery and underhanded tactics used to ram this bill through Congress.  And even more so, they should be ashamed to have supported a bill that will force already struggling Iowans to face a future of higher taxes, increased premiums and Medicare cuts.

“Americans across the country have made their voices heard and flatly reject this legislation loaded with special deals and tax increases, but Reps. Boswell and Braley did not listen to them and instead chose to force this bill through by any means necessary. Iowa Democrats can be sure that Iowa voters will not forget this vote that will negatively affect Americans for generations to come, and this November they will be sure to send them packing.”