Tiberi Response, My Reply

Rep. Pat Tiberi's response to my email of 9/23/13:
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Thank you for your letter regarding your concerns with a potential government shutdown.  I appreciate this opportunity to correspond with you.

As you know, on September 20, 2013, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.J.Res. 59 by a vote of 230-189 with my support.  If enacted, the bill would fund the government through December 15, 2013 while also fully defunding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), also known as Obamacare.  It is currently awaiting consideration in the Senate. 

What I've heard over and over again from multiple employers, providers, and patients in my district is that Obamacare does nothing to lower the cost of health care, to increase access to quality care, or to encourage companies to offer health care, expand their businesses and hire more people. I believe PPACA, enacted in 2010, is making things worse. Bottom line, the Supreme Court ruling to uphold the law on June 28, 2012 does not change the fact that PPACA is unpopular, unaffordable, and overreaching. I am sorry if we do not agree on this matter. 

While I remain committed to overturning Obamacare, I do not believe shutting down the government is a responsible or effective way of accomplishing that goal.  According to the non-partisan Congressional Research Service, in the event of a government shutdown, Obamacare funding and major pieces of the law – including premium tax credits and the individual mandate – would continue to be implemented. Much of the funding for Obamacare is mandatory funding that was authorized when the law was passed in 2010, and even in the event of a government shutdown, this money would be spent and substantial implementation would continue. 

H.J.Res. 59 is the only legislation currently passed by either the House or the Senate that would continue to keep the government funded and would avert a government shutdown.  As negotiations on a continuing resolution continue, I will certainly keep your views in mind. 

As your representative, constituent input is a vital element in best serving the 12th Congressional District of Ohio. Again, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. If I may be of assistance in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me.

                                                                                    Sincerely, 

                                                                                    Patrick J. Tiberi

                                                                                    Representative to Congress

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Dear Rep. Tiberi:

Thanks for responding.  It's good to know you don't want to shut down our government.  Yet you still voted for HJ Res. 59 knowing it could very well do just that with its ridiculously unrelated combination of "funding" the government (thru 12/15/13) while simultaneously "defunding" Obamacare (forever).

I'd like to make a couple follow-up points:

HJ Res. 59 is not "awaiting consideration in the Senate."  It's a dead duck in the Senate and everybody knew it beforehand, just like the 40+ useless House votes to repeal Obamacare.  These divisive "symbolic" votes are just a waste of the people's time and money.

As you mention, most of Obamacare funding (80-85%) is mandatory, so HJ Res. 59 doesn't come close to "fully" defunding it.  Whether it's defunded or not, government shut-down or not, Obamacare will continue to be implemented.  So-called defunding is a pernicious myth.   

Since you don't believe a government shut-down is responsible or effective, then when Ted Cruz finally shuts up and the Senate strips out the House GOP's irrelevant defunding nonsense and returns a clean government funding bill to the House, I trust you'll happily vote for it.  And after 12/15/13, let's put an end to these short-term CR shenanigans.  Deal with one issue at a time and vote to keep our government operational with a traditional budget.


Regarding your "commitment" to overturning Obamacare:

From what you say you've "heard over and over again," you must be listening only to uninformed people.

Obamacare will reduce health care costs for a great many people.  Exchange premiums are expected to average $328 a month.  Many low-income or currently uninsured people will pay $100 a month or less.

It most certainly does increase access to quality care.  That's really the main point.  Obamacare will make coverage available to tens of millions of previously uninsured people.

It does "encourage" companies to offer health care.  In fact, it requires it of all employers with 50 or more workers.  Even those exempt companies with less than 50 employees are encouraged to offer coverage via 35-50% premium tax credits.

Where do you get the notion that health care reform must somehow be expected to "expand businesses"?  That's totally apples and oranges.  But the good news is that with 20-30 million new customers entering the system, business in the health care service and health insurance industries ought to expand rather nicely!

Obamacare affordably expands access to coverage for millions, including the uninsured, low-income folks, and young adults.  It ensures coverage for pre-existing conditions and mental health services, and ends many insurance industry abuses.  And you say you're committed to getting rid of it.  What an odd and heartless commitment you've made.

Yes, we disagree on this matter, completely.  However, as my representative, you may indeed be of assistance to me and many others by changing your misguided position on this important issue.

Sincerely, 
Buster Gammons