Vote 'YES' on Bills to Defund Obamacare 

April 8, 2011

U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC  20515

Dear Representative,

On April 5, the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed five bills that aim to defund and rectify some of the egregious flaws in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).  On behalf of the more than one million members and supporters of the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW), I urge you to support these important pieces of legislation when they reach the House floor:

H.R. 1213, sponsored by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.), would strike the unlimited direct appropriation provided to the Secretary of Health and Human Services in Section 1311(a) of the PPACA for state-based exchange grants and rescind any unobligated funds. 

H.R. 1214, sponsored by Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Tex.), would repeal Section 4101(a) of the PPACA, which authorizes the Secretary to award grants to support the construction of school-based health centers.  A similar program is already authorized for Congress to fund through the regular annual spending process.

H.R. 1215, sponsored by Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio), would convert a $75 million appropriation provided in Section 2953 of the PPACA for “personal responsibility education program” grants into an authorization that would require Congress to determine funding through the normal annual appropriations process. 

H.R. 1216, sponsored by Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.), would convert the $230 million appropriation provided in Section 5508 of the PPACA for “teaching health centers development” grants into an authorization that would require Congress to determine funding through the normal annual appropriations process. 

H.R. 1217, sponsored by Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.), would repeal Section 4002 of the PPACA, which creates a $17.75 billion prevention and public health fund.  Section 4002 provides the Secretary with full authority to administer these funds to spend over and above existing programs already funded by Congress; in other words, it is an unaccountable slush fund.  The money is used for the Communities Putting Prevention to Work initiative, much of which is used in an attempt to modify behavior through anti-obesity campaigns, as well as anti-smoking and pro-sin tax regulations and legislation. 

Federal spending has ballooned out of control and taxpayers are bracing themselves as the nation rapidly approaches its statutory, record-breaking $14.3 trillion debt limit.  As Congress examines areas of wasteful spending and contemplates budget cuts, it should begin by repealing and replacing President Obama’s landmark healthcare legislation, a $2.5 trillion symbol of Washington’s reckless and profligate behavior.  All votes on H.R. 1213, 1214, 1215, 1216, and 1217 will be among those considered in CCAGW’s 2011 Congressional Ratings.

Sincerely,

Thomas Schatz,
President