Oshkosh, WI – U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson made the following remarks today on the 4-year anniversary of the passage of Obamacare.

“I primarily ran for the U.S. Senate to be the vote to repeal this unworkable and damaging piece of social engineering.   I knew that Obamacare would reduce the quality of care, lead to rationing, limit innovation, and further bankrupt America.  It is also the greatest assault on our freedom in my lifetime.

“Until the moment of Obamacare's implementation, the concerns expressed above were only predictions and warnings that too many Americans either ignored or simply hoped would not come true.  Americans wanted to believe their president when he repeatedly promised they could keep their health care plans and doctors, and that his health care plan would actually reduce a family's annual insurance cost by $2,500 per year.

“Now the truth is known, and millions of Americans have lost health care plans they liked and could afford, and many are losing access to doctors and treatments that have kept them alive. And the cost of health insurance for millions of families has gone up dramatically, not down. 

“While it is true that some Americans are benefiting from subsidized insurance rates and direct government support, those benefits are being paid by someone else -- primarily our children and grandchildren, as the massive debt burden they will bear continues to explode.  

“Congress should act responsibly and immediately begin to repair the damage already done by Obamacare and limit and prevent future damage.  That is what I am attempting to do by introducing the “If You Like Your Health Plan, You Can Keep It Act,” and by working with Senate and House colleagues on a bill tentatively titled “Preserving Freedom and Choice in Health Care.”  The main component of this bill would eliminate all the mandated coverages that are forcing people to lose their insurance and driving up the cost of insurance.

“In other words, these bills would actually protect patients and make care more affordable.  I hope the House can pass legislation similar to this, and I hope that Harry Reid will start listening to the pleas of real people being harmed by Obamacare and help pass similar legislation in the Senate.”

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