Vote Alert
“YES” on H.R. 1173, the “Fiscal Responsibility and Retirement Security Act of 2011.”
January 31, 2012
NTU urges all Representatives to vote
“YES” on H.R. 1173, the “Fiscal Responsibility and Retirement Security Act of
2011.” Introduced by Rep. Gingrey
(R-GA), this bill would repeal the Community Living Assistance Services and
Supports (CLASS) Act to prevent the actuarially unsound program from being
revived through judicial review.
From
its inception it was clear the CLASS Act was an unsustainable entitlement
program aimed at artificially improving the Patient Protection and Affordable
Care Act’s (PPACA’s) fiscal impact. As written the CLASS Act’s ban on medical
underwriting would lead to a cycle of adverse selection and higher premium
costs, in turn leaving it uncompetitive with the private market. Given its
flaws, Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius was forced
to admit last October that she could not “see a viable path forward for CLASS
implementation at this time,” and therefore had to suspend the program. Nor
could HHS’s own actuaries immediately identify a substitute for CLASS that she
could “certify as both actuarially sound for the next 75 years and consistent
with statutory requirements.”
Nevertheless,
according to the Congressional Research Service, failure to comply with PPACA’s
statutory mandate to designate an alternative assisted-living benefit plan by
October, 1 2012, could force HHS to either revive the CLASS Act or face legal
action. Passage of H.R. 1173 would avert this unnecessary complication while
ensuring that taxpayers aren’t forced to pick up the tab.
Roll call votes on H.R. 1173 will be significantly
weighted in our annual Rating of Congress and a “YES” vote will be
considered the pro-taxpayer position.
If you have any questions,
please contact NTU Federal Government
Affairs Manager Brandon Greife at (703) 683-5700
