Statement by Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX) on today's House vote to repeal Obamacare:

"While the Supreme Court has ruled on the constitutionality of the president’s health care law, fortunately the legislative branch will have the final say. Today we continue efforts to repeal this takeover of 17% of the U.S. economy. Whether it happens this Congress, or with a Republican-controlled Senate and White House next year, the heavy-handed mandates, multi trillion dollar tax increases, and erosion of individual liberty that puts Washington between patients and their doctors will be struck down by the court of public opinion and their elected representatives.

"Our healthcare system is in need of common sense reforms. We must increase quality and access to care, but without punitive government regulations that penalize job creation and drive doctors out of their profession. Competition-driven reforms, such as policy portability and selling policies across state lines will help to achieve this goal.

"More than 12,000 pages of regulations imposed by this law have already cost small businesses and the health care industry $2.3 billion. Once fully implemented, those regulations will soar to $24 billion.

"For the average American family, insurance premiums increased $1,200 in the first year after the law passed and they are expected to rise another 13%. While the president promised that Americans can keep their policy if they like it, according to the Congressional Budget Office, millions of employees are at risk of losing their health insurance because large employers can save money by dropping their coverage and paying the penalty of $2,000 per employee. This law is hurting many more Americans than it will ever help and it needs to be repealed."

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