GUEST POST: Fund the Government; Defund Obamacare
Rep. Matt Salmon /
Rep. Matt Salmon (R-AZ)
Yesterday, conservatives in the House and Senate demonstrated unity in message, thought, and drive in our fight to finally defund Obamacare through the continuing resolution.
I ran for Congress to help lead the fight to defund, delay, and dismantle the train wreck that is Obamacare, and from my first day in Washington we have worked hard to do just that.
I am proud of the Speaker and Republican leadership because they brought a good bill to the floor that reflects the will of an ever-growing majority of Americans who want to keep the government operating and defund Obamacare. This morning, House Republicans passed that bill with overwhelming unity.
Last night on Twitter, #DefundObamacareBecause was trending at number one. It is easy to understand why. While there were hundreds of creative offerings, they all pointed to one conclusion: Obamacare is not ready for prime time. The President knows this, which is why he’s postponed, changed, or altered over 40 aspects of his own law by his own decree.
After months of media coverage, Americans are realizing that Obamacare will not bend the cost curve down or reduce the deficit. Instead, hundreds of thousands of Americans are losing the coverage they enjoyed, and even more are finding their hours cut and paychecks reduced as employers struggle to meet the Obamacare mandates. President Obama has granted waivers for Members of Congress and corporations. Even unions, usually his most strident supporters, hate this law. Meanwhile, he refuses to delay the individual mandate that will impose huge costs on families across the country. It is no wonder the latest polling data confirms that Obamacare is more unpopular than ever.
Yesterday, I stood with Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) when they reaffirmed they would do everything necessary and anything possible to defund Obamacare. They are men of their word. I hope their fellow Republican Senators will do what is right for American taxpayers.
Now it is up to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and President Obama to put politics aside, stop the harmful effects of Obamacare, and fund the government. I hope the President and Harry Reid care more about the American people than their political pride.
Representative Matt Salmon (R) represents the 5th district of Arizona.