In an effort to get the government out of American’s pockets and to limit the overreaching scope of the government, U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03) today voted to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and issued the following statement:

“As Vice Chairman of the Small Business Committee, I’ve met with countless constituents who have told me that Obamacare is already devastating our small businesses, their employees, and hard-working American families and that is why I have voted to repeal or defund this legislation in various forms 37 different times. Our efforts to repeal all or part of Obamacare will continue unabated especially in light of new revelations about the gathering of personal information by the Internal Revenue Service which is supposed to serve as the main enforcer for Obamacare. I will continue to ask more questions about the IRS’ involvement in this ongoing scandal and I have to question their competence to oversee as troublesome a program as Obamacare. If Obamacare is not repealed, it means government run health care, higher insurance premiums, a loss of job-based health benefits, and fewer employment opportunities for Missourians. I encourage the Senate to follow the House’s lead and repeal this disastrous law.”

According to an economic report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), seven million people will lose their job-based health insurance; and according to studies released by insurance plans and independent actuaries, Missouri health-care premiums will increase anywhere from 61 to 106 percent. The President has also been quoted saying he would not sign a plan that adds one dime to the deficit, however; the CBO has tagged the cost of the PPACA at $1.88 trillion through 2022, which is nearly twice the original cost.