House Republicans Reward Corporate Interests

GOP's first serious leadership act ignores America's grave economic problems

Washington--House Republicans have announced that a vote on repealing the recently passed health care reform law will occur on January 12th. Mary Lassen, managing director of the Center for Community Change released the following statement:

"America has serious economic problems. Unemployment is crushing our communities. Wealth inequality is surging. Personal bankruptcies and foreclosures continue to plunge families into crisis. Yet, the first priority of the new Republican-led House of Representatives is not to address any of these problems. Instead, it is to reward the corporate interests that have ravaged our economy by attempting to repeal the first major piece of legislation to stop the health insurance industry from taking advantage of consumers by denying critical health care benefits to millions of Americans. These same companies financed the change in House leadership with millions of dollars in campaign donations and misleading attack ads.

"The historic health care reform law is already set to reduce prescription drug prices for seniors by 50 percent and allow families to cover adult children for years longer. As other provisions of the reform are phased in, millions of families will be granted access to the quality care they are currently denied.

"It is offensive that the first serious act of the GOP will be to ignore America's grave economic problems and reward the very same interests that got us into this mess. That it will also be an extension of their single minded political war on the President is perhaps not surprising, but it is tragic that the result of their scorched earth politics will put health benefits at risk for many Americans.

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