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Boehner: Small Business Premium Increases Another Broken Obamacare Promise

'Another sucker-punch to our economy'

February 25, 2014

Speaker of the House John Boehner (R., Ohio) blasted the Obama administration for failing to keep yet another Obamacare promise Tuesday on the House floor.

A report released Friday by the actuary for the Center for Medicare and Medicaid services indicated 65 percent of small businesses will see premium increases in their healthcare.

Boehner noted the White House promised Obamacare would reduce costs by an estimated $2000 per family.

"These premiums will be felt not just by workers but small business owners themselves, making it harder to create jobs, another sucker punch to our economy. Another broken promise to hardworking Americans," he said.

Full remarks:

JOHN BOEHNER: Mr. Speaker, this week, the House will consider several measures to stop government abuse, especially when it threatens freedom and limits opportunity. The American people expect accountability. Every day the house is focused on carrying out responsible oversight.

As an example, late on Friday, the Obama administration released a report that we demanded detailing the impact of the health care law and what it will do to employer-sponsored health plans. You may not have seen the report, it was released rather quietly on friday afternoon, so I’m going to enter it into the record today. I urge every member to read it and share it with your constituents. As you do, keep in mind that the White House promised that this law would bring down health insurance premiums by some $2,000 per family.

Instead, according to the administration's own bookkeepers, premiums would go up for two out of three small businesses in our country. This amounts to about 11 million employees who are going to see more money coming out of their paycheck for their health insurance every month. These premiums will be felt not just by workers but small business owners themselves, making it harder to create jobs, another sucker punch to our economy. Another broken promise to hardworking Americans. And the only reason we even know about it is that the House demanded this transparency from the administration. That's why the House continues to focus on stopping government abuse and promoting better solutions for middle class families and small businesses. I yield back.