“The House was originally scheduled to take up this bill tomorrow. But there was a hole. A hole created by their refusal to consider meaningful legislation to address gun violence in this country.
“I was on the steps of the Capitol earlier today hearing the poignant stories, at times virtually unbearable to hear, from victims of gun violence, the shattering impact on themselves or their children, and what it means in real terms for the lives of their families.
“The bill now before us can be simply described: a tax cut mainly for the most wealthy, being paid for by the loss of health coverage for 130,000 Americans.
“As the White House noted in its Statement of Administration Policy, ‘The Administration strongly opposes House passage of H.R. 1270, which would create new and unnecessary tax breaks that disproportionately benefit high-income people, increase taxes for low-and middle-income people, and do nothing to improve the quality of or address the underlying cost of health care.’
“The Republicans have totally failed during the six years of health care reform to present an alternative. Instead, it is repeal or destroy the ACA. This is the 64th vote to repeal or undermine the ACA.
“This bill is one of their scattered proposals on health care. According to the Joint Committee on Taxation, of the approximately 1.2 million returns in 2013 with an HSA deduction, more than 50 percent are from people with incomes ranging from $100,000 to $200,000 to over $1 million. This bill would double their tax benefit.
“For Republicans, their banner is ‘the more income inequality, the better.’
“I strongly urge my colleagues to vote ‘no.’"
