Rep. Kelly Statement on Government Shutdown, Fight to Delay Obamacare for All Americans
WASHINGTON — Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA) issued the following statement today in response to the U.S. Senate voting to reject the House-passed Continuing Resolution (CR), H.J. Res 59, to fund the government until December 15, 2013, which included an amendment to delay the Individual Mandate provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) for one year. It would have also required all Members of Congress, all congressional staff (including committee and leadership staff), the President, Vice President, and all political appointees within the administration to purchase their health insurance on the Obamacare exchange. The Senate also announced its rejection of a House proposal to enter a bicameral conference committee to resolve the differences between each body’s version of the CR.
“Last night, for a third time, the House did its job and passed bipartisan legislation to prevent a government shutdown and grant the American people relief from a job-killing law they’ve continuously opposed. For a third time, the Senate failed to follow.
“All Americans deserve the same relief from Obamacare that President Obama has already given to big businesses and special interests. There is simply no justification for letting individuals and families experience this law’s full pain while exempting those in positions of power from abiding by the same law.
“Sadly, instead of compromising with the House on behalf of the American people, President Obama and Majority Leader Reid shamefully chose to let the government come to a partial shutdown. When given the chance to ensure fairness for all Americans, the president and his party failed to do the right thing just so they could prop up a wrongful law.”
NOTE: Rep. Kelly is a co-sponsor of the Stability, Security and Fairness Resolution introduced by Rep. Tom Graves which would delay and defund the Affordable Care Act for one year while funding the federal government for the entirety of Fiscal Year 2014. He is also a co-sponsor of H.R. 3026, theArmed Services Always Paid Act introduced by Rep. Louie Gohmert, which guarantees payment for all members of the Armed Forces during any lapse of appropriations.
*** Now that a partial government shutdown has gone into effect, Rep. Kelly has requested that his salary be withheld. ***
###