Hello,

Independence Day has come and gone, and the summer is in full swing. While the summer heat has definitely hit Kansas with temperatures topping 100 degrees this week, things have been heating up in the Senate as well. 

The last few weeks have been dominated by two contentious topics. First, immigration reform, which unfortunately looked a lot more like amnesty than true reform. And second, the fight over the implementation of Obamacare, which has reached new heights in the halls of Congress as the President’s signature legislation begins to fall apart at the seams.

The Obamacare Train Wreck
Just before the Fourth of July I had the honor and privilege of delivering the National Weekly Republican Address. I spoke to the nation about the deadline for millions of Americans forced to purchase health insurance in a special “exchange” which is quickly approaching. 

I pointed out that the Obama administration still can’t answer basic questions about their own health care law. Health care as you know it will change. Do you know how much your new plan will cost? Do you know what it will cover? Will you be able to see your family doctor? Will your personal health information remain private and safe? Will you lose the health insurance plan you like? Will the high costs force your employer to make you a part-time employee, change your plan or just drop your coverage altogether? Simply put, will you and your family have the health insurance you need to ensure your well-being?

Right now, you can’t answer these questions and neither can the Obama Administration. In fact, according to the non-partisan General Accounting Office, there is no guarantee these exchanges will even be ready by the mandatory October 1st deadline. As a result, Americans are rightfully concerned and skeptical about how this ‘massive federal government takeover of health care’ will work.

Click the video below to view the full address. A complete transcript of the address can be found here.

Click Here To Watch

Senator Roberts Introduces Bill to Sunset Obamacare Exchanges If Administration Fails to be Ready to Serve Uninsured
To answer the question what happens if and when the Obamacare exchanges aren’t ready by the October 1st deadline, I have introduced legislation to fully sunset health care exchanges, included in Obamacare, if this critical provision, required by law and designed to aid the uninsured, fails to be ready as promised.

One of the leading factors contributing to the nation’s distaste for the President’s signature legislation is the uncertainty Obamacare creates for families, for job creators, and for health care providers. While health care costs continue to rise, the complete failure to implement Obamacare with any measure of clarity and transparency has paralyzed job creators. Employers, both large and small, are unable to plan for the short or long term costs of providing their employees with healthcare. As a result, job creators have slowed or even stopped hiring and millions of hardworking Americans may lose the coverage the currently have and like.

My common sense legislation would end provisions of Obamacare related to health care exchanges and the individual mandate, if the exchanges are not ready to enroll patients by October 1, 2013. The administration declared repeatedly that the health care exchanges must be up, running and ready to enroll by October 2013 to ensure that coverage will begin by the statutory deadline of January 1, 2014; however, little evidence has been presented to confirm they will be able to meet this timeline.

Obamacare Employer Mandate Delayed – Address Predictions Coming True
Just days after I delivered the National Republican Weekly Address warning Kansans and the American people of the problems with the implementation and costs of Obamacare, two of my concerns became a reality.  First, another major insurance company followed Aetna’s lead and pulled out of California’s exchange kicking thousands off their plans they had and liked.  And second, the Obama Administration announced a delay in enforcement of the mandate or tax on small and large businesses until after the 2014 election.
 
It’s hard to believe, but during a holiday week the Obama Administration announced, with a blog post no less, what I have been saying all along - Obamacare is not ready and is not what was promised to the American people. 

This mandate or tax on businesses, which I never supported, was also designed by Democrats as a revenue raiser for the law’s onerous and costly provisions. What does this loss of revenue mean to the whole Obamacare formula? Greater taxes and greater premiums for all.

This all follows thousands of waivers the administration has granted corporations, unions and other groups. My question is again, where is the waiver for a family in Kansas?

Voting No on Senate Amnesty Bill
The week before Independence Day, the Senate took up a massive piece of legislation billed as a thousand page, silver bullet fix to an issue hurting our economy and threatening our security. Sound familiar?  It didn’t work with Obamacare and it’s not going to work with immigration.

In this bill, border security isn’t a front-end guarantee as we were initially assured. Rather it is a toothless promise, with no fence and no border agents required until 2021. In the meantime, the bill calls for millions of green cards to be issued and amnesty for future visa overstays. Altogether, this legislation would triple the number of immigrants granted lawful permanent residency.

And as for the path to citizenship? Who do we honestly expect to raise their hand, identify themselves as an illegal immigrant, agree to pay years of back taxes, pay an additional fine, get in line for a chance, just a chance, at getting citizenship in about a decade?

I believe my colleagues made a good faith effort to fix the serious immigration problem facing this nation, but I think they missed the mark in their attempt to negotiate a comprehensive package that promises too much and is not a realistic solution. Let’s take this step by step. First secure our border and stop the flood of illegal immigration. Then we can take steps to deal with a fixed number of illegal residents. The 1986 comprehensive bill failed to achieve what was promised. The 2007 bill could not pass because of unrealistic promises and this legislation will fail as well, which is why I could not support it.

Recognized for Leadership on Kansas Army Ammunition Plant Redevelopment
I was honored last month to receive the Association of Defense Communities’ Congressional Leadership award for my efforts to create jobs and economic opportunity following the closure of the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant in Parsons. I want to thank Ann Charles of the Great Plains Development Authority and the team she assembled to ensure the redevelopment of the KSAAP would benefit the region for generations to come. It was a seven year battle with two administrations, the Army and the EPA, but in the end, we have a new industrial park which will provide growth and opportunities for Parsons, Labette County and beyond.

We put together the following video to tell the story of the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant in Parsons.  Click the video below to watch.

Click Here To Watch

Washington Visitors
The summer months often mean we get a lot of Kansas visitors to my Washington office.  Here are some of the groups who we able to make it to the nation’s capital in the last few weeks.

Students from Bennington, Tescott and Little River High Schools dropped by for a tour of the Capitol.

I had a moment between votes to step onto the Senate steps and take a photo with some of our great, hardworking summer interns serving Kansas this summer.

I got the chance to meet with some 4-H students from Riley County today as a part of their Citizenship Washington Focus Trip.

And my friend Anna Gorsuch and her dad came by as part of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Children’s Congress.

Check Senator Roberts' Website, YouTube and Facebook Sites for Updates
You can visit my YouTube site for more information on what's happening in Washington, D.C. and Kansas by visiting www.youtube.com/SenPatRoberts. It's a great place to find speeches and debates on the Senate floor, press conferences, interviews and Senate hearings. You can also stay updated on all these happenings on my Facebook and Twittersites.

If you wish to contact me about an issue or want more information, please visit my website, roberts.senate.gov.