Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) issued the following statement for the record regarding H.R. 674, Repealing Government Withholding of Payments to Businesses, and H.R. 2576, Modifying Calculation of Income for Eligibility for Premium Tax Credits and Medicaid under Health Reform:
“Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to vote in support of H.R. 674, which would repeal the onerous requirement that federal, state, and local government entities withhold three percent of payments to government contractors. Although never put into effect, the requirement would constitute a significant burden on all levels of government, which are presently sorely lacking in resources. Withholding three percent of payments was unsound policy when enacted by the Republican Congress in 2005, and I gladly will help my colleagues on the other side of the aisle correct their mistake.
“I am less disposed to be helpful on H.R. 2576, a bill to adjust the definition of “modified adjusted gross income” (MAGI), so that fewer Americans qualify for tax credits under the Affordable Care Act. This strikes me at best as a solution in search of a non-existent problem. To add insult to injury, H.R. 2576 will cause American families, seniors, and those with disabilities to pay more for their healthcare at a time when they can least afford it. I have spent my entire career fighting to ensure working American families have access to affordable, good-quality healthcare. Supporting H.R. 2576 would be in direct contravention of that goal, and I cannot in good conscience do so. I urge my colleagues to vote “no” on it.
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to conclude by noting the rascality underlying the rule for H.R. 674 and H.R. 2576. It allows separate votes on both bills – one non-controversial and the other very controversial – and then requires they be merged for consideration by the Senate. I oppose this sort of legislating and believe each chamber should be allowed to work its will on separate items, rather than forced to accept bad policy in the guise of procedural tricks and faux compromise. This is skullduggery at its finest, Mr. Speaker, and an unnecessary affront to regular order, which your side so consistently claims to cherish. I yield back the balance of my time.”
###
