Democrats Put Higher Income Earners Above Veterans, Unemployed in Health Care Bill

Washington, D.C. – Democrats on the Senate Health, Education, Labor andPensions (HELP) Committee today rejected a proposal from Senator Mike Enzi (RWyo.)to eliminate handouts to higher income workers in the Democrats’ health care billand use the savings to expand veterans’ health and education benefits, help Americanswho have lost their jobs, or pay down the national debt.

“Supporting our veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, helping peoplewho have lost their jobs, or at least paying down our enormous debt should comebefore giving handouts to families earning almost $100,000 a year,” said Enzi, RankingMember of the HELP Committee. “How can we truly help the needy if we wastetaxpayer money on subsidies for people who are not facing the greatest need? Ourveterans and Americans who are really struggling should come first.”

The HELP Committee Democrats’ bill spends $723 billion on subsidies forAmericans earning up to $88,000 per year, which includes approximately 80 percent ofthe population. By targeting subsidies toward low-income people who really need help,the Enzi amendment would save $400 billion.

“We cannot afford the spending in this bill. I support providing assistance for lowincomeAmericans to buy health insurance, but families earning $88,000 per year arenot low-income,” said Enzi, the Senate’s only accountant.

Democrats rejected an Enzi amendment to the HELP Committee Democrats’health care bill to eliminate subsidies for Americans earning more than 250 percent ofthe federal poverty level, and redirect that money to pay for unemployment insurancebenefits. Enzi also proposed using the money to expand health and education benefitsfor returning veterans or to pay down the national debt.

####