WASHINGTON — Members of Congress from Iowa, Minnesota, Washington and Wisconsin secured extra money in the new health care law to reward low-cost hospitals in their states, which they said had long been underpaid by Medicare. But it now turns out that New York will get more of the money than any other state, and some of the chief proponents of the bonus payments will not receive any.… Read more

In the full-circle department, recall the moment last September when Senator Max Baucus and Medicare went after the insurer Humana for having the nerve to criticize one part of ObamaCare. It turns out those same regulators have different standards for their own political advocacy. This week Medicare sent a flyer to seniors, ostensibly to inform them of what ObamaCare "means for you."… Read more

Let’s be clear about what we are doing today: Nothing.  This bill is going nowhere.  It will not be signed into law and it will be totally rewritten in the Senate.  Majority Leader Reid made that perfectly clear on the floor of the Senate last night.  So, if you want to walk a $54.2 billion deficit increasing, tax-hiking, job-killing plank, vote yes.  If not, vote no. Let’s also be… Read more

For decades small business owners have been telling anyone who would listen that they need health-care reforms that lower costs. But President Obama and his allies in Congress pushed through a law that will dramatically raise health-care costs and increase the overall cost of doing business. What's more, the federal mandate requiring that nearly all U.S. residents carry health insurance… Read more

Mr. Chairman, thank you for yielding time.  We are here today to investigate the magnitude of the problem posed by evasion of federal excise taxes on tobacco.   It goes without saying that the smuggling of cigarettes to avoid federal taxes is wrong. It was also wrong of Democrats to inadequately fund the children’s health insurance program with these taxes.  Cigarette taxes are an… Read more

Washington, D.C. – Today Congressman Wally Herger (R-CA), along with Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH), Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA), Republican Conference Chair Mike Pence (R-IN), Ranking Member of the Ways & Means Committee Dave Camp (R-MI), House Education and Labor Committee Ranking Member John Kline (R-MN) and Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Joe Barton… Read more

Washington, D.C. – Ways and Means Ranking Member Dave Camp (R-MI) and Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Wally Herger (R-CA) today sent a letter requesting that Government Accountability Office (GAO) Acting Comptroller General Gene Dodaro examine the legality of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) mailing to seniors about the Democrats’ health overhaul on the grounds… Read more

Since Democrats introduced their latest version of H.R. 4213, “The American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act,” business leaders and organizations that represent millions of American businesses and their employees have voiced their opposition to the job-killing, deficit extending bill. These employers say that the legislation is anti-job growth, will place American businesses at a… Read more

Question: What is the difference between adding $134 billion to the deficit (Democrats’ old “extenders” bill) and over $84 billion (Democrats’ new “extenders” bill) ?   Answer: Just 15 days. That’s right, instead of hitting the Statutory Debt Limit on February 27, 2011 under the old bill, the reportedly “new-and-improved, fiscally-responsible” package will delay that until March 14,… Read more

Yesterday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that seniors will soon be receiving a health care information brochure that looks more like taxpayer-funded propaganda.  Recognizing that the vast majority of Americans, especially seniors, are opposed to their health overhaul, the Obama Administration has unleashed a public relations campaign aimed at Medicare… Read more