Repeal and Replace Obamacare

The OpEd below ran on March 25, 2010 in weekly newspapers across New York's First Congressional District.

Repeal and Replace ObamaCare
by Randy Altschuler

The 2008 elections gave the White House and control of both houses of Congress to the Democrats. But, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and President Obama have badly misread their mandate.

Instead of fighting double-digit unemployment through empowering the private sector to spur job creation, they decided to spend their political capital imposing health care policy based on ideologically partisan goals as opposed to common sense, free market, solutions.

The passage of ObamaCare represents a decisive step toward a government-run, taxpayer-funded, cradle-to-grave, health care system. In addition to the arm-twisting, deal making, and earmarks that played a role in the passage of this legislation, there also lies a staggering fiscal reality that we can ill afford.

This year's projected deficit is $1.55 trillion. This unsustainable spending is only dwarfed by the size of ObamaCare. Over the next decade, the true cost of this legislation could surpass $2.5 trillion.

Moreover, the projected deficit reduction the bill offers is an accounting charade. Former Congressional Budget Office director Douglas Holtz-Eakin estimates that an additional $562 billon will be tagged on to an already bloated deficit.

Simply put, we are spending our way into oblivion at a record pace.

On the campaign trail, candidate Obama stated, "Under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase." After the past twelve months, we've come to expect broken campaign trail promises, but they pale in comparison to the failed promises we pass along to our children and grandchildren which should be equated to nothing short of generational theft.

There are a dozen new tax increases for these Americans. All told, $569.2 billion in new tax increases, including $52 billion on employers, many being small businesses, already struggling under the burden of high health insurance costs.

So, exactly who benefits from ObamaCare?

Well, the IRS is expected to hire as many as 16,500 additional auditors, agents, and others to handle new tax receipts. Chillingly, they have been granted authority to fine American families up to $2,250 for failure to purchase the mandated "minimum essential coverage."

Many of the new taxes and insurance mandates are scheduled to take effect within six months. Under the Senate bill, health insurance premiums will increase approximately $2,100 for families. Yet, federal subsidies for health care won't kick-in until 2014.
It has become obvious that Suffolk County needs a congressman who comprehends the effect ObamaCare will have on our families and small businesses, which represent the life-blood of our county. ObamaCare will be the final straw for many companies struggling to survive in a bad economy. This much is clear: the cost of doing business on Long Island may simply have become too much.
The Republican legislation would have lowered premiums for families and small businesses by up to 10 percent--without irresponsible cuts to Medicare Advantage or raising taxes. When presented with bipartisan supported common sense, market-based solutions, like Tort Reform and the dropping of interstate barriers on insurance providers, the Democrats balked.

In the face of vocal opposition by the public, the Democrats exhibited a cynical arrogance and outright disdain towards the American people. "[W]e have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it," Nancy Pelosi declared.

You have my word that I will fight to repeal this disastrous legislation and replace it with free market initiatives that will work to lower costs and premiums, while increasing coverage and improving the quality of health care.

Randy Altschuler is a successful self-made businessman and conservative Republican candidate for Congress in New York's 1st C.D.