House Passes Bill That Would Prohibit IRS from Implementing Obamacare

The House of Representatives is now in recess, but before leaving passed H.R. 2009, a republican sponsored bill in opposition of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care act of 2010, also known as Obamacare. According to House Republicans the Affordable Care Act would put the IRS in charge of a cadre of responsibilities involved in enforcing the Act. Republicans argue that the Affordable Care act imposes new taxes on the medical industry, on employers, and on individuals and would require the IRS to enforce compliance and oversee the collection of the taxes. The massive tax increase could require the IRS to expand significantly, as resources would be required to write regulations, collect the tax, and enforce compliance.

Republican opposition to the Affordable Care Act has been strong since its enactment in 2010, making it difficult for the president push the policy through. In May of 2013 Rep. Tom Price(R-GA) introduced a bill that would explicitly prohibit the secretary of the treasury from enforcing “Obamacare,” calling the bill the “Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act of 2013.” On August 2 the House of Representatives passed the bill with a vote of 232 to 185. For Democratic representatives also voted for the bill – John Barrow (D-GA), Mike McIntyre (D-NC), Collin Peterson (D-MN), and Jim Matheson (D- UT).

Several lobbyist groups and prominent republicans have come forward to support H.R. 2009, including Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee David Camp, who stated the “IRS is already out of control,” and should not be involved in healthcare. Camp cited a recent investigation into the IRS’s alleged attacks on conservatives.

When congress resumes in the fall the bill will be passed to the Senate for consideration. It’s expected that the bill will not make it through the Democrat-controlled Senate.