House Majority’s New Government-Run Health Care Bill Contains the Same Concerns
On Thursday, the House Democrat Leadership unveiled H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, which sets the tone for a new Washington takeover of the health care system, one defined by federal regulation, mandates, myriad new programs, and higher federal spending.  Although the bill number and name are new, this 1,990-page piece of legislation contains a number of serious concerns parallel to its predecessor, H.R. 3200.  Among its similar provisions, the new legislation will impose a 2.5 percent tax on individuals who fail to purchase a government-designed health care plan; place a new 5.4 percent surtax on high-earning individuals and small businesses; and create a new payroll tax up to eight percent on employers who do not provide their employees with insurance or who are deemed to not provide adequate insurance to their employees.  Furthermore, H.R. 3962 will prohibit the reimbursement of over-the-counter pharmaceuticals from Health Savings Accounts, Medical Savings Accounts, Flexible Spending Arrangements, and Health Reimbursement Arrangements and will also impose a 2.5 percent excise tax on medical devices.  As H.R. 3962 is nearly double the length of the previous health care bill and a product of closed door meetings, Congressman Miller will pour through the bill’s provisions in the coming days to better understand what implications it will have on you and the American health care system.  While it is unclear when the House will take up the health care legislation, Congressman Miller will oppose this sham of reform because it fails to address the real issues attributed to the rising cost of health care.  To read the text of the new bill, click here.  To read about Congressman Miller’s solutions for effective health care reform, click here to view his recent mailer.

Congressman Miller Supports 287(g) Program
In order to better enforce our nation’s immigration laws, Congressman Miller recently joined over 50 of his colleagues in sending a letter to the President expressing support for a broadly-applied 287(g) program.  Created by Congress in 1996, the 287(g) program enhances cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.  Since its inception, over 1,000 officers from 67 law enforcement agencies have been trained and participate in the program, including Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties.  According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), since January 2006 the 287(g) program is credited with identifying more than 130,000 potentially removable aliens, mostly at local jails.  Furthermore, in 2008 the number of 287(g) arrests was equal to one-fifth of all criminal aliens identified by ICE in prisons and jails nationwide that year.  Despite the overwhelming success of this program, the Administration recently implemented limits on state and local law enforcement agencies who participate in the 287(g) program, which effectively prevent them from arresting many of the illegal immigrants with whom they come into contact.  Congressman Miller is deeply disappointed the Administration has watered down this critical program and will keep fighting to strengthen the enforcement of our nation’s immigration laws.  To view the letter, click here.

House Approves Small Business Omnibus, Highlights Failure of the Stimulus
As small businesses continue to have trouble accessing the capital they need to keep their businesses going, the House on Thursday passed a small business omnibus to reauthorize and make changes to six difference programs and create two additional programs within the Small Business Administration.  While Congressman Miller supported the measure, he is deeply disappointed that the so-called “stimulus” package passed earlier this year has failed to provide effective solutions to address our ailing economy and help small businesses.  Prior to enactment, the Administration claimed the stimulus would “save or create” 4 million U.S. jobs.  Since then, however, over 3 million jobs have been lost and the unemployment rate has soared from 8.1 percent to a 26-year high of 9.8 percent.  In fact, the unemployment rate in California has increased from 10.6 percent to 12.2 percent.  In addition, various media reports this week have found that the Administration has overstated its number of jobs created or saved through the stimulus program by thousands.  Rather than waste valuable taxpayer dollars on frivolous government programs, Congressman Miller believes firmly small businesses must have increased access to their own capital so jobs can truly be saved, protected, and created. 

House Passes Bloated Interior and Environment Conference Report, CR Attached
This week, the House approved a $32.3 billion Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations conference report for Fiscal Year 2010, which contained a continuing resolution to fund our government through December 18 while Congress passes the remaining Fiscal Year 2010 appropriations bills.  The Interior and Environment conference report represents a whopping 17 percent increase from last year’s levels and is in addition to the $11 billion appropriated this year for interior and environment programs in the so-called “stimulus” bill.  Of the many large funding increases included in the report, the report provides a $2.7 billion, or 35 percent, increase over last year’s level for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  The bill also provides $382 million for climate-related initiatives, which is a staggering 67 percent increase from Fiscal Year 2009.  Congressman Miller opposed this legislation because he believes firmly that the government should reign in wasteful Washington spending during these times of economic hardship.

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