Supreme Court Rules on Healthcare Law

I respect the ruling handed down by the Supreme Court last week, but it doesn’t change the fact that the health care law’s policy is flawed and remains very unpopular with the majority of Americans. Americans deserve a government that works towards meaningful health care reform, and not one that threatens good private coverage, robs $500 billion from seniors, burdens our children and grandchildren with debt and risks life-saving and life-improving medical device innovation nationwide. Our country—and its working and middle class families—simply can’t afford it. 

The ruling from the Supreme Court validates the fact that with the new healthcare law, Americans now have to choose between either a massive new tax or higher insurance premiums. I will continue to work to for common-sense solutions to lower health care costs for families and small businesses.

Read my statement on last week’s Supreme Court decision here.

Bipartisan Transportation Bill Sent to President’s Desk

Last Friday, Congress passed a transportation bill that was a compromise between Republicans and Democrats in the House and the Senate. While I preferred a longer five or six year plan, I supported this bill which extended and funded all related transportation programs for two years. The big positives of the bill include a more streamlined review process, accelerated emergency repairs, and an increased role for state and local governments on transportation projects to save time and money.

Check out my ECC video from last week, where I address the recent transportation bill.

Spending This Week Visiting with Neighbors

I spent this past week back home in Minnesota meeting with constituents at Congress on Your Corner events in Coon Rapids and Excelsior as well as pumping gas for neighbors at Bobby and Steve’s Auto World in Eden Prairie. As always, I appreciate hearing from you and thank everyone who dropped by to share their thoughts, concerns, and ideas with me.  

High gas prices were definitely on peoples’ minds. Fortunately, the House has taken bipartisan action on a package of seven energy bills to lower energy costs and create American jobs. The Domestic Energy and Jobs Act is the latest in a series of House-passed jobs bills targeted at helping to remove government barriers to economic growth and stop policies that drive up prices on American families and small businesses.

Over the last few years, total fossil fuel development has dropped 7% and total onshore acreage leased is the lowest since 1984. The nonpartisan Energy Information Administration estimates that oil production in the Gulf was down 22% in 2011 and projects it will decrease by 30% this year. I support long term comprehensive energy sources and strategies, including nuclear, wind, solar, and clean coal to meet our growing needs. We need to be filling up on American-made energy not only to bring down costs, but also to create American jobs.