Alexander on Newest Obamacare Delay: “Every Shred of Evidence Tells us the Entire Law Should be Delayed”

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 – The senior Republican on the Senate health committee today released the following statement on the administration announcement that online sign-up for Obamacare’s small business health insurance exchanges will be delayed until November:

Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said: “Another day, another Obamacare delay, and still the administration recklessly plows ahead with its mandate that American families and workers buy insurance through a failing program—or face a fine from the IRS. Every shred of evidence tells us the entire law should be delayed.”

In a floor speech yesterday, Alexander detailed all the Obamacare provisions already delayed: “The employer mandate has been delayed for one year.  The requirement that insurance companies report to the IRS information about health insurance products has been delayed for one year.  The ability for small employers to provide employees with multiple health insurance plan options in something we call the small business SHOP exchange has been delayed for one year.  The ability for state Medicaid programs to send electronic notices to beneficiaries, that is delayed for one year.  The start of the Basic Health Program, delayed for one year.”

He added: “Why not delay the entire law for a year?  That would give the administration time to at least get ready and it would give the American people a chance to have a referendum on the law in 2014.”

Alexander has introduced with Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), senior Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, bills to permanently delay the individual mandate and the employer mandate.

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