WASHINGTON, DC - House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Health Subcommittee Chairman Joe Pitts (R-PA) issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit decision in Halbig v. Burwell.
“The court offered a clear rebuke of the administration’s effort to extend subsidies where the law did not provide them. The ruling also dramatically limits the IRS’ legal authority to enforce the individual and employer mandates. From the way the president’s health care law was forced through Congress to its reckless implementation, time and again the administration has acted outside the law, creating confusion, uncertainty, and ultimately harm for the American people."
NOTE: Former HHS Secretary Sebelius recently declared that ‘it really doesn’t matter ’ if states create their own exchanges, but today’s ruling makes clear that the law’s implementation has very real consequences for Americans. Billions of taxpayer dollars have been wasted on failed state exchanges that now require more money to change their systems. Today’s decision underscores yet another concern surrounding the failed state exchanges, and raises new questions about those states transitioning to the federal exchanges.
