Esty Votes Against Bill to Prevent ACA Implementation

WASHINGTON, DC –Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) released the following statement regarding her vote today against H.R. 2009, the so-called “Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act,” a bill that would repeal parts of the Affordable Care Act which assist small businesses and individuals with tax credits and other means to help purchase health insurance.  On July 17, Esty voted in favor of H.R. 2667 and 2668, reasonable bills that would simply delay until January 2015, the requirements in the Affordable Care Act that businesses with 50 or more full-time employees pay a penalty for not providing health insurance and that individuals pay a penalty for not purchasing health insurance. Esty also voted against full repeal of the Affordable Care Act in May.

“As I’ve said before, we can make improvements and adjustments to the Affordable Care Act, but repeal is not a solution. We can have a discussion about reasonable adjustments such as a one year delay of the penalties while business owners and individuals prepare and figure this out. But outright blocking implementation of the Affordable Care Act is completely unreasonable, unacceptable, and unproductive, and would cost individuals and companies money. The Affordable Care Act is the law of the land, and it’s already making a positive difference for folks across Connecticut. Today’s bill would actually block critical components of the Affordable Care Act from being enacted, including the individual and employer mandates, and tax credits to help individuals and small businesses purchase coverage. My office is here as a resource to help folks in our district have the information they need to get ready and enroll as we continue to move forward with implementation. We’re working with our state’s health insurance marketplace folks to do everything we can to make the Affordable Care Act work well here in Connecticut.”

For more information on Connecticut’s official health insurance marketplace, where beginning on October 1 Connecticut residents can purchase health insurance, Esty also urges constituents to visitwww.accesshealthct.com.