Wittman Says 'Obamacare' Must Be Repealed

U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman says in his most-recent newsletter that there are many Americans who are unaware that the Supreme Court of the United States voted 5-4 last week that the Affordable Care Act is largely constitutional.

Wittman, R-1, said that there is no doubt the country's healthcare system is in need of reform, but it must be responsible reform. He doesn't think the president's plan solves the problem for the country.

"It is unaffordable and unworkable for Americans and for our country as a whole," Wittman said. "That is why I voted against Obamacare in 2010, and that is why I believe it must be repealed immediately so that reasonable, commonsense steps can be taken to make health care coverage affordable for individuals and families."

He said the partisan rhetoric in Washington after the SCOTUS decision was not helpful to the debate. The debate should be about ensuring citizens across the country can afford and access the medical care that they and their families need. Wittman said the justices wrote in their opinion that it is up to Congress to determine if President Obama's health care legislation is of sound policy. He said that since the healthcare reform debate began, he has been in close contact with constituents across his district to discuss the factors that drive up health care costs. 

"These factors must be addressed in order to bring costs down and increase overall health coverage, and I truly believe that rational solutions are not dictated by political party," he said. "In terms of health care reform, there are factors which many of us can and have agreed on since the beginning of this debate. For example, I support preservation of access to care for individuals with pre-existing conditions, as well as ensuring that children up to the age of 26 can stay on their parents’ plan. Responsible medical liability reform is another commonsense solution that folks agree on, as well as allowing the sale of health insurance across state lines. These are simple, specific issues that can be passed with bipartisan support. A 2,000-page bill that was written behind closed doors and raises taxes on middle class families is simply not the solution to reducing health care costs and increasing overall medical coverage."