Following the state of Georgia’s request for an emergency delay in implementing its state health insurance exchange, U.S. Senator Pat Roberts took to the Senate floor to urge his colleagues to support his legislation to eliminate the exchanges if they are not ready October 1, 2013. To view the speech, click here.

“In Georgia and Ohio, we know that these state exchanges will be offering plans that will double the premiums people pay today, if states can get them operational at all,” Roberts said. “This was not the intent of health care reform or the exchanges. We ought to repeal the entire law, but until then, my bill acts immediately.”

Senator Roberts’ Bill, S. 1272, would sunset provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act 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. 

In fact, last month the Obama Administration announced a delay in enforcement of the mandate or tax on small and large businesses until after the 2014 election because the businesses exchanges were not going to be ready.

“This just means another delay for businesses that complained about the red tape and costly burdens the mandate placed on their operations.  Many are already laying off employees or moving them to part-time status to avoid the costly mandate,” Roberts said.

“And, all of this follows the thousands of waivers granted to corporations, unions and other groups.  My question is again, where is the waiver for the average family in Kansas and around the nation? Where is the permanent delay for the taxes that will affect individuals?

“Now, I realize as we travel down this road to the October 1 deadline at ever increasing speed, there will be those who support continued advertising and encouraging thousands to sign up in exchanges. The question is, sign up for what?  The chances for the exchanges, state and federal, to be ready are remote at best. Obviously, there will be a delay and once again, we will have the Obama Administration re-writing laws they had a hand in writing behind closed doors and were passed exclusively by the Democratic majority. 

At introduction, Senator Roberts’ legislation has been cosponsored by Senators Inhofe (R-OK), Barrasso (R-WY), Cochran (R-MS), Coats (R-IN), Enzi (WY), Graham (R-SC), Sessions (R-AL), and Kirk (R-IL).

Senator Roberts is a senior member of both the Senate Finance and Health Committees. He is Co-Chairman of the Senate Rural Health Caucus. He voted against Obamacare.