Vice President Mike Pence visits Anderson and gives an address on ta reform at the Wylam Center of Flagship East on Friday, Sept. 22, 2017. Staff photo by John P. Cleary
ANDERSON – During a visit to Anderson, Vice President Mike Pence expressed confidence that the Republican effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, would finally succeed.
Speaking before a crowd of about 600 people at the Flagship Enterprise Center's East campus Friday, Pence also touted President Trump's tax reform plan.
Two previous attempts by the Republican majority in Congress have failed to make good on a campaign promise to raze Obamacare.
And, just hours before Pence's Friday speech, Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, announced he wouldn't support the latest GOP proposal, potentially delivering a death blow to the effort.
But Pence was unfazed.
“We all remember the broken promises,” Pence said of Obamacare. “Indiana premiums will go up 75 percent. Seventy percent of Indiana counties will only have one choice for health insurance.
“Obamacare has failed,” the vice president added. “Obamacare must go.”
Pence said the proposal drafted by Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana is the right bill at the right time.
“It rolls back corporate and individual mandates,” Pence explained. “People won’t be required to buy health insurance and (won't) pay a federal penalty if they don’t.”
Pence said the Healthy Indiana Plan is providing health insurance coverage for 400,000 Indiana residents.
“It’s the gold standard for Medicaid reform in the country,” he said. “HIP is leading the way.”
Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Indiana, attended Pence's speech and said he is opposed to the Graham-Cassidy bill.
“It’s a bill that takes away coverage for hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers,” he said. “It actually does eliminate coverage for people with pre-existing conditions because it raises the cost so much.”
Donnelly said he has been working on a bipartisan health care plan.
The decision by Sen. McCain not to support the Graham-Cassidy bill is critical, Donnelly said.
“It’s one more voice of reason on this issue where we see the Graham-Cassidy bill will take away coverage and eliminate the funding for opioid addiction treatment."
Rep. Susan Brooks, R-5th District, said it's up to Senate Republicans to pass the bill first.
“I understand there is going to be some challenges in the Senate, but it is still critically important,” Brooks said. “The House passed the American Healthcare Act, so we’re going to continue to work on it.”
'No good news' in tax code
Pence said the Trump administration is collaborating with members of Congress for an across-the-board tax cut that would be "pro-workers" and "pro-jobs."
The vice president vowed that, before the end of the year, President Trump would sign a bipartisan tax reform bill that would lower federal taxes for middle class families and businesses.
He said the current tax code is complex and a burden on individuals and business.
“People want a simple code and to pay less to the federal government,” Pence said. “The tax code is 10 times the length of the Bible and has none of the good news.”
He said the tax code is partly to blame for American companies falling behind in the global economy.
“Foreign companies have a competitive advantage,” Pence said. “Those days are over.”
Reform legislation would reduce tax rates and close loopholes that benefit the wealthy, according to the vice president.
“It will be flatter and fairer for every American,” Pence said. “When the playing field is level, American workers win every time.”
Pence said the country is counting on Indiana support for tax reform legislation to pass this year.
“Sen. Donnelly, we need your help, too,” Pence said. “We’re going to get the tax cuts done, and we’re going to do it together.”
Donnelly said that, when he met with President Trump last week, he stressed the importance of a middle class tax cut.
“I hope he heard me,” Donnelly said. “We need a tax reform bill that makes sure another Carrier situation never happens again.”
Carrier, which manufacturers heating and air conditioning units, has moved much of its production from Indianapolis to Mexico.
“I want to make sure the tax benefits go to the moms and dads that work hard every day to support a family,” Donnelly said.
Brooks said the foundation of the tax reform would be unveiled soon. President Trump will visit Indianapolis on Wednesday, according to Pence.
“There have been hearings going on for years,” she said. “This is not happening quickly.”
Brooks said it’s about growing jobs in this country, about lowering tax rates and bringing that money back into this country so companies can invest in American workers.
If no Democrats support tax reform, Brooks said, the Republican Party will still move forward with legislation.
“I believe we can walk and chew gum at the same time,” Brooks said when asked whether Congress can pass health and tax reform at the same time. “They will stay focused on health care in the Senate; we’re going to be able to do both.”
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