Rep. Hunter Supports Repeal of ‘Cadillac Tax’

WASHINGTON, July 17 -- Rep. Duncan D. Hunter, R-California, issued the following news release:

Congressman Duncan Hunter (CA-50) today voted in favor of H.R. 748, the Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019, bipartisan legislation he had cosponsored to repeal the so-called "Cadillac Tax" provision within the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).

Specifically, Obamacare will begin imposing a 40% excise tax on high-quality employer-provided health insurance plans for individuals and families beginning in 2020 unless changed.

"Somewhere in the middle of the never-ending, partisan debate regarding an impeachment that will never happen, admonishing Speaker Pelosi and issuing a Contempt of Congress for Attorney General Barr, the House leadership finally found the time to bring to the floor a substantive piece of legislation that affects the everyday lives of the American people," said Congressman Hunter. "Millions of Americans rely on employer-sponsored benefits to provide for the medical needs of their families. Obamacare punishes these families with an unfair tax that will result in higher deductibles, fewer services, and less accessible health care. We can definitely do better."

It is estimated that approximately 181 million Americans rely on and receive their health care through an employer. Beginning in 2020, Obamacare mandates a 40% tax on this coverage, specifically affecting vulnerable populations such as older, sicker and underserved communities. The 40% rate is twice the top corporate rate and recent polls indicate that over 80% of voters oppose taxing employer-provided health insurance.

"The fact that the leadership of House Democrats recognized the need to put a tax cut bill on the floor is an indication of how bad Obamacare really is for working families. Honestly, however, I do not care how it happened, I'm just glad it did."

H.R. 748 passed the House by an overwhelming margin of 419-6 and will now be referred to the U.S. Senate for consideration.