Costs for Families Skyrocket Under Government Takeover of Healthcare Dems Defended

September 28, 2011

FYI, a similar version of this release below went out to the following districts: Jason Altmire (PA-04), John Barrow (GA-12), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Tim Bishop (NY-01), Leonard Boswell (IA-03), Bruce Braley (IA-01), Lois Capps (CA-23), Dennis Cardoza (CA-18), Russ Carnahan (MO-03), Kathy Castor (FL-11), Ben Chandler (KY-06), David Cicilline (RI-01), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Jim Cooper (TN-05), Jim Costa (CA-20), Jerry Costello (IL-12), Mark Critz (PA-12), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Peter DeFazio (OR-04), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Brian Higgins (NY-27), Jim Himes (CT-04), Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15), Tim Holden (PA-17), Rush Holt (NJ-12), Steve Israel (NY-02), Bill Keating (MA-10), Ron Kind (WI-03), Larry Kissell (NC-08), Rick Larsen (WA-02), David Loebsack (IA-02), Jim Matheson (UT-02), Carolyn McCarthy (NY-04), Jerry McNerney (CA-11), Michael Michaud (ME-02), Brad Miller (NC-13), Bill Owens (NY-23), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Ed Perlmutter (CO-07), Gary Peters (MI-09), Collin Peterson (MN-07), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), David Price (NC-04), Nick Rahall (WV-03), Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), Kurt Schrader (OR-05), Heath Shuler (NC-11), Adam Smith (WA-09), Betty Sutton (OH-13), John Tierney (MA-06), Niki Tsongas (MA-05), Pete Visclosky (IN-01), Tim Walz (MN-01), John Yarmuth (KY-03)

Costs for Families Skyrocket Under Government Takeover of Healthcare Matheson Defended
Utah Democrat Voted to Keep the Disastrous Law that is Destroying Jobs and Fails to Contain Healthcare Costs

Washington — The consequences of the Democrats’ disastrous government takeover of healthcare continue to mount after Jim Matheson rejected an opportunity to repeal the burdensome law (Roll Call #14, 1/19/11). A new report shows that healthcare costs are skyrocketing, burdening middle-class families and small businesses when they can afford it least. This is exactly the opposite of what Matheson’s Democrat leaders in Washington promised when they forced their government takeover of healthcare through Congress.

“Jim Matheson shows he is simply unwilling to recognize the disastrous consequences of the government takeover of healthcare, which continues to make things worse by destroying jobs and increasing costs,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “Matheson voted to keep the Democrats’ failed healthcare takeover in place and now middle-class families are paying thousands of dollars more on premiums when they can afford it the least.”

The annual Kaiser Family Foundation report showed that health insurance costs since the Democrats’ government takeover of healthcare have been skyrocketing, further burdening the fragile economy:

“The steep increase in rates is particularly unwelcome at a time when the economy is still sputtering and unemployment continues to hover at about 9 percent. Many businesses cite the high cost of coverage as a factor in their decision not to hire, and health insurance has become increasingly unaffordable for more Americans. Over all, the cost of family coverage has about doubled since 2001, when premiums averaged $7,061, compared with a 34 percent gain in wages over the same period.” (Reed Abelson, “Health Insurance Costs Rising Sharply This Year, Study Shows,” The New York Times, 9/27/11)

This is exactly the opposite of what Democrats promised when they passed their government takeover of healthcare:

“So with this plan, we’re going to make sure the dollars we make — the dollars that we spend on health care are going to make insurance more affordable and more secure.” (President Barack Obama, “Remarks by the President on Health Care Reform in Strongsville, Ohio,” The White House, 3/15/10)

Jim Matheson will now have to defend his own decision to stand up for the disastrous government takeover of healthcare, which is destroying jobs and seeing healthcare costs skyrocket at alarming rates. As is often the case, the middle-class families and small businesses who need help most are being hit the hardest by Matheson and his Democrat colleagues’ failed leadership in Washington.

Costs for Families Skyrocket Under Government Takeover of Healthcare Dems Defended http://ow.ly/6HrQi #madeinwdc

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