(Alexandria, VA) -- Today the 362,000-member National Taxpayers Union (NTU) decried passage of H.R. 3962, the trillion-dollar so-called "Affordable Health Care for America Act." The House voted 220-215 to pass this 2,000 page monstrosity of a bill that dramatically raises taxes and expands the size and scope of a federal government that is already far too large.
"No health care system in the world could have cured this Congress of the 'do-something disease' with which it has been infected," said NTU Director of Government Affairs Andrew Moylan. "The American people spent months trying to cure their Representatives of this affliction by expressing their frustration and dislike for this health care bill, from town hall meetings to marches on Washington. But instead of taking their medicine and returning to the drawing board, supporters of this bill took advantage of what are legitimate problems with health care to pass an enormous package of tax hikes, subsidies, and regulations."
NTU also sharply criticized many "Blue Dog" and other moderate Democrats who voted for the bill. "Nobody can still cling to pretenses of fiscal conservatism after voting for this hideous bill," Moylan said. "As many as 69 Democrats expressed some sort of opposition to the legislation, but in the end only 39 had the guts to stand by taxpayers and vote no."
The legislation now moves to the Senate, where NTU will continue to pressure moderates of both parties to vote against these harmful policies.
NTU is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization founded in 1969 to work for lower taxes, smaller government, and economic freedom at all levels. Note: More information about this bill is available at www.ntu.org.