Hensarling vows to to repeal Affordable Care Act

Palestine Herald-Press (TX)

Aug. 10--U.S. Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX 5th District) said Wednesday he was "sorely disappointed" in the Senate's failure to revamp Obamacare but expressed confidence that Congress would repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

"Increasing premiums, loss of coverage, high costs, fewer choices, and broken promises loom over the heads of the American people," Hensarling said at a town hall meeting in Palestine.

"Texans and Americans are continuing to pay the price. We made a promise to put an end to Obamacare. We cannot let this major issue fade into the background. I will say this over and over again -- failure is not an option."

Hensarling said that in 2017 the U.S. House of Representatives passed 300 bills, but 250 stuck in the U.S. Senate.

He called the American Health Care Act, which would repeal the Affordable Care Act, landmark legislation.

When asked what he liked about Obamacare, Hensarling rattled off what he thought was wrong with it, including higher premiums and "broken promises" of remaining with the doctors who patients choose.

The only favorable part of the bill, he said, was covering patients with pre-existing conditions.

On another matter, Hensarling said the Financial Choice Act, if enacted, would roll back many of the provisions of the Dodd-Frank 2010 federal law. The legislation passed the House 233-186 in June.

"As Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, I am non-stop fighting to rollback onerous regulations that harm economic prosperity," Hensarling said.

"The Dodd-Frank Act is a main culprit of big government overreach and has affected everyone from small businesses on Main Street to anyone with a credit card, a mortgage, or auto loan. The costs brought on by the Dodd-Frank financial control law and Washington bureaucrats drag down American taxpayers and workers."

As the author of the Financial CHOICE Act, Hensarling said he was proud to have created a way to end big bank bailouts while holding Wall Street and Washington accountable.

"Through the Financial CHOICE Act, community banks and credit unions across the country will see regulatory relief needed to put credit and capital in the hands of our hardworking citizens," Hensarling said.

He said he would continue to push for changes in the federal tax system.

"Our country is in desperate need of fundamental tax reform," Hensarling said. "Our tax code is unfair, too complicated, and puts our workers at a competitive disadvantage. I am working with President Trump and other Republicans to change Washington by reforming and streamlining our tax code.

"As I travel across the district, I hear over and over again how burdensome taxes are on families and small businesses. I will not stop fighting to get our economy firing on all cylinders."

Later, when commenting on legislation affecting veteran's care and benefits, Hensarling said, "Our nation's heroes deserve the very best care and treatment possible.

"This July, the House passed the largest expansion of benefits for our veterans in over a decade. Veterans across the 5th District are calling for continued support for the Veterans Choice Program, and I was proud to support these improvements in health care for our heroes."

After Hensarling left Palestine, he headed to Forney for another town hall. He typically hosts town hall events every three months to stay in touch with constituents.

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