Sen. Mary Pilcher-Cook
Sen. Mary Pilcher-Cook Chair, Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee
Rep. Dan Hawkins Chair, House Health and Human Services Committee
TOPEKA–Kansas House and Senate Health Chairs Senator Mary Pilcher-Cook and Representative Dan Hawkins joined 68 lawmakers as they signed and sent a letter today to House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, calling on Congress to step in and fix the mess caused by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as ObamaCare.
Rep. Daniel Hawkins
Forty-four Representatives from the 125 member Kansas House of Representatives and twenty-six Senators from the forty member Kansas Senate signed the letter. The letter comes on the heels of the introduction of Senate Concurrent Resolution 1606 on the same topic, which was introduced with 27 co-sponsors.
Since Congress passed ObamaCare in 2010, the law has faced a number of legal challenges, including the Supreme Court striking down mandatory Medicaid expansion in NFIB v. Sebelius. After that ruling, the Obama Administration has placed increasing pressure on states to implement ObamaCare’s Medicaid expansion.
ObamaCare is back on trial and a decision from the Supreme Court in King v. Burwell is expected this summer. This ruling will decide if individuals in states without exchanges are entitled to subsidies illegally authorized by the IRS. If the Justices invalidate the subsidies, states will once again be pressured to implement ObamaCare by establishing a state-based exchange.
“The people of Kansas didn’t write this law, they didn’t want this law, and they’re tired of having to pay for this law,” said Chairwoman Pilcher-Cook. “ObamaCare is nothing more than Washington telling us how to buy health care, and if Congress won’t stand up for our citizens, I will. We will not spend one more penny fixing Congress’ mistakes, whether that means rejecting Medicaid expansion or a state exchange.”
“It’s time for Congress to step up and finally take charge when it comes to ObamaCare, said Chariman Hawkins. “No more passing things to find out what’s in them and then saddling states with clean up. It is time for Congress to stand up and repeal this law.”
State Senator Terry Bruce, the majority leader, is among area legislators signing the letter.
To see all those signing, click the link to the letter: King v. Burwell signed letter from Kansas Legislators