GOP Rep: ObamaCare a ‘train wreck’ for nation

Lawmakers continue to get a “stack of sad stories” about President Obama’s signature healthcare law, a GOP representative said in the party’s weekly address.

{mosads}Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas), himself a doctor, said that his office was getting streams of letters from constituents facing higher premiums, higher deductibles and even losing their coverage. 

“Many families are now learning that they may not just lose their plan. But if they like their doctor, they may lose their doctor too,” Burgess said. “It’s a train wreck for doctors, a train wreck for patients, and most importantly, it’s a train wreck for the American people.”

The weekly address is just the latest sign that congressional Republicans will continue to hammer the disastrous rollout of ObamaCare for weeks to come, and to cast those problems as far more than just a shoddy website. 

Burgess, for instance, said the Affordable Care Act “does not match” what Obama promised, and said Republicans were keeping “the administration accountable once again for their failed promises to the American people and their misleading statements to Congress.” 

House Republicans approved a bill this month that would allow insurance companies to still sell plans that aren’t up to the law’s requirements. 

Obama himself has said he would seek a regulatory fix for people who are losing coverage they want to keep. Premiums would also decrease under the law for some people, and many who face rising premiums could get tax credits to offset the costs.

“Many Americans are now questioning the White House’s credibility, and rightfully so,” Burgess said. “They are right to expect the president to admit his mistakes and start giving some clear answers.” 

Burgess also noted that, while the U.S. healthcare system is in need of improvements, the Affordable Care Act is beyond saving, and Congress should start from scratch. Some Republicans have thrown out ideas for replacing ObamaCare, but House Republicans have yet to coalesce around a single plan. 

“For now though, we will continue to ask the tough questions, and hold this president accountable for his broken promises on this self-inflicted disaster,” Burgess said.