WASHINGTON, DC – As Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee, U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) today met with the newly elected members of the United States Senate.  After the orientation meeting, Senator Roberts released the following statement renewing his commitment to full repeal of Obamacare.

“This is an inspiring group of newly elected Senators, and I’m looking forward to working alongside my new Republican colleagues to break the gridlock and deliver commonsense, conservative solutions for our country,” Senator Roberts said after the meeting.

“My first priority in the new Republican Senate is to repeal and replace Obamacare, a priority I know is shared by many of my newly elected colleagues,” Roberts continued. “Obamacare is crushing our employers and driving up costs for patients.  Just this week, many Americans are learning that the second year of Obamacare coverage will bring premium increases of nearly ten percent. 

“Facts are stubborn things, and the fact is Obamacare has failed to live up to its paramount promise of reducing costs for patients. We must repeal Obamacare and start over, and I look forward to doing just that in the new Republican Senate Majority.”

Background

• The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) says health care premiums will jump by nearly 7 percent this year. (cms.gov)

• PricewaterhouseCoopers estimates premiums in exchange plans will increase by an average of 8 percent next year.  PWC estimates Kansas premiums will increase by more than 15 percent. (pwc.com)

• This week reports broke that an Obama Administration official credited the lack of transparency and the “‘stupidity of the American voter” for the passage of Obamacare. (Washington Post, November 11, 2014)

Senator Roberts is the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, and is a senior member of the two committees with jurisdiction on health care – the Senate Committee on Finance and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

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