Congressman Denny Rehberg

Offers further insight into public concerns with healthcare

BILLINGS, MT - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius following her visit to Montana to discuss the health care legislation that was signed into law earlier this year. Polls at the time of passage indicated that Montanans strongly opposed the measure, and recent reports indicate that time has not improved the bill’s popularity. Rehberg has sponsored legislation to repeal the bill.

“I wish the authors of Obamacare had taken the time to listen to Montanans before they passed it instead of after, but I’m glad that they’re finally willing to hear what the folks I’ve been hearing from for years have to say,” said Rehberg, a member of the Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee. “Americans still need health care reform that addresses costs and access, and unfortunately, the bill that passed addresses neither for rural states like Montana. At this point, the easiest solution is to start from scratch.”

Rehberg, who was the only member of Montana’s delegation to hold open, public meetings in Montana as the health care reform law was drafted and passed, cited the public sentiment he heard at those meetings as the justification for his vote. That negative public sentiment was also reflected in statewide polls, that indicated strong opposition to the bill.

“Unfortunately, the unpopularity of Obamacare is only a symptom of the serious deficiencies in the bill itself,” said Rehberg. “Far from fixing the problems we face, this job-killing bill makes things worse by hamstringing the economy and targeting small businesses for increased regulation and expenses.”

Letter:

Dear Secretary Sebelius,

Thank you for taking the time to visit Big Sky Country and discuss the health care needs of rural Montana. While it certainly would have been preferable for you to discuss the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) with Montanans before it was actually passed into law, I’m pleased you got a chance to talk to folks in a couple of communities.

As I’m sure you heard during your visit, quality health care is particularly challenging in a state like Montana where less than one million people are spread over 147,000 square miles. Having held 72 open and public listening sessions in Montana this Congressional term alone, I would like to share with you some of the rural health concerns I’ve heard from around the state.

As with most of the country, Montana’s economy is driven by small businesses which provide more than 98 percent of the jobs in our state. I have heard from a wide variety of small business owners who have expressed concern about the new obligations contained in the PPACA. Whether it’s the mandate to offer health insurance, new taxes on Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Savings Accounts (FSAs), increased insurance premiums, or the requirement that all vendors are responsible for additional IRS paperwork for purchases of $600 or greater, many businesses have stopped hiring or are being forced to reduce their workforce to comply with these new obligations. In short, these burdensome obligations impact job creation.

I have also heard from many of Montana’s seniors and their doctors with concerns about Medicare. Not only does the PPACA cut $575 billion from Medicare, the new law does nothing to deal with the most pressing issue facing Medicare today – the need for a permanent fix to the reimbursement rate cuts for doctors providing service to Medicare patients. Many doctors have told me that if these cuts go into effect they will no longer be able to afford to offer services to their Medicare patients. In a state where some patients must travel for hours to reach their doctor, it may be impossible to find an alternative provider.

Additionally, I have heard concerns about the cost of the new high risk pool program. We discussed this when you testified before the House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Appropriations Subcommittee earlier this year. While I agree that changes are necessary to address the health insurance needs of those with pre-existing conditions, current estimates indicate this temporary program is going to cost up to three times the original estimate of $5 billion. It’s unclear how you intend to pay for this shortfall. Furthermore, because this estimate was so inaccurate I have serious concerns as to the accuracy of the cost estimates of permanent programs.

Many of my constituents are also opposed to the individual mandate to purchase health insurance. As you know, a recent ballot initiative in Missouri found that 71 percent of voters opposed the individual mandate. While no such equivalent survey has been conducted in Montana, it only takes one open, public listening session to realize that folks here share this concern.

Thank you again for visiting Montana. I hope you’ll keep the thoughts of Montanans in mind as we continue to address the problems facing America’s health care system.

BILLINGS, MT – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today contacted Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano urging her to immediately freeze additional funding for the soon-to-be-one-way Port of Entry at Whitetail in Montana and to conduct a review before completing the $8.5 million project. The funding for the port has been a matter of national criticism for some time, all the more now that Canada has decided to close its side of the port, effectively making the port available only for Canadian entry into the United States.

“After hearing from the folks who live in northeast Montana, I can say that despite the popular myth that government waste is embraced by those who are supposed to benefit from it, Montanans aren’t happy about how their tax dollars are being wasted,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “$8.5 million is too much to spend for a press release and a ribbon cutting ceremony, and at this point, that looks to be the only benefit this project has. It’s my job to safeguard tax dollars, and I’m making sure this boondoggle doesn’t slip through the cracks.”

When it comes to the ‘so-called’ Stimulus, Rehberg has been a vocal critic of ongoing waste and an advocate for accountability and transparency. For example, he expressed frustration when the cost of the Billings Federal Courthouse ballooned from $35 million to almost $60 million as a result of the influx of stimulus funding. He has also fought against wasting millions of dollars creating the political highway signs crediting the ‘so-called’ Stimulus with funding for construction projects.

“I recommend that the Department of Homeland Security conduct a thorough review to determine whether the Port of Whitetail should remain open,” wrote Rehberg in his letter. “Furthermore, I recommend that the Department freeze any further ARRA spending at the Port of Whitetail until this review can be completed. I believe the Department would do a great disservice to the American taxpayer if it completed construction at the Port of Whitetail and later closed the Port due to lack of use.”

Dear Secretary Napolitano:

Last week, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced its intention to close Saskatchewan’s Port of Big Beaver on April 1, 2011. As you know, Big Beaver is the sister location to Montana’s Whitetail Port of Entry.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 allocated $420 million for the modernization of land ports operated by Customs and Border Patrol. According to Recovery.gov, $8.5 million of this allocation is to be spent modernizing and upgrading the Port of Whitetail.

Given that fewer than five vehicles per day pass through Whitetail, its proximity to the Port of Scobey just 12 miles away, and the upcoming closure of its Canadian counterpart; my constituents and I question the wisdom of spending millions of taxpayer dollars modernizing the Port of Whitetail.

Last Fall, following widespread concern about the cost of port modernization projects on the Northern Border, your office appointed an independent committee to conduct a 30-day review of the project allocations. During this review, the independent committee visited the Port of Whitetail and a handful of other ports before making several recommendations in a document entitled 30-Day CBP Port Modernization Review: Summary and Department Response. Among their recommendations, the independent committee suggested that:

“The Department should conduct periodic studies to determine whether any ports of entry should be closed. Although permanent closure of a port of entry involves a number of complex considerations (international relations and impacts on local residents to name just two), some of the facilities that currently exist are separated by only several miles and have low traffic volumes.”

According to that same document, the Department of Homeland Security responded to this suggestion, saying that: “This recommendation will be taken under advisement and reviewed in consultation with the interagency.”

While I understand the need for interagency consultation, I believe that CBSA’s closure of the Big Beaver port dramatically impacts the current plans for the rehabilitation and expansion of the Port.

Due to the Canadian decision to close the Port of Big Beaver, I recommend that the Department of Homeland Security conduct a thorough review to determine whether the Port of Whitetail should remain open. Furthermore, I recommend that the Department freeze any further ARRA spending at the Port of Whitetail until this review can be completed. I believe the Department would do a great disservice to the American taxpayer if it completed construction at the Port of Whitetail and later closed the Port due to lack of use.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 225-3211.

Sincerely,

BILLINGS, MT - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, released the following statement regarding the closure of the Canadian border crossing at the Whitetail Port of Entry near Scobey, MT. The port made national news (http://www.nyegateway.com/2009/09/wasting-millions-of-stimulus-money-on-remote-montana-canada-border-posts.html) recently when it was announced that $8.5 million in stimulus funds are being spent to modernize the port, which averages only five vehicles per day making it the least used port of entry on the U.S./Canadian Border.

Rehberg hosted listening sessions yesterday in Daniels and Sheridan Counties where the port situation was a hot topic of conversation. With the news that the Canadian government was closing its side of the border, the Whitetail Port will now only allow cars to enter the United States from Canada. U.S. travelers will be unable to enter Canada at that crossing. However, the Scobey Port of Entry remains open, just 12 miles away.

“You might expect the folks actually living near the Whitetail Port to be the port modernization’s biggest cheerleaders, but after personally talking with many of them, that’s just not the case. As taxpayers, they’re on the hook to pay for these wasteful projects, and they’re not happy about it.

“In fact, the ’so-called’ stimulus has literally wasted billions of dollars on projects that were approved with little to no public input or Congressional oversight. This money should have been used to pay down America’s huge national debt or beef up security along the northern border instead of being used to remodel a barely utilized, one-way port of entry. It’s no wonder Montanans from across the state are telling me they’re outraged by the wasteful spending going on in Washington. They rightly believe their tax dollars shouldn’t be wasted building a nicer, more modern port for Canadian travelers.”

Rehberg is the co-chairman of the House Northern Border Caucus.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, has cosponsored legislation to cut all non-defense/homeland security/veterans affairs spending by five cents for every dollar in fiscal years 2010 and 2011. Rehberg has offered several solutions for spending reform in Congress.

“If the State of Montana can save a nickel for every dollar it spends, there’s absolutely no reason the federal government shouldn’t be able to do the same,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “The record deficits are adding to a record debt that is bogging down economic recovery and destroying jobs. Montanans have tightened their belts, and it’s way past time for Congress to follow their lead.”

Rehberg has been leading by example among his colleagues in the House. This legislation is only the most recent example of him putting taxpayer money where his mouth is. Earlier this year, he decided to forgo earmarks and sponsored legislation to apply the money saved back to the national debt. He has also offered amendments in all of his Appropriations Subcommittees to freeze spending levels and has sponsored a Constitutional Amendment to require a balanced budget.

When Democrats took over control of Congress in 2006, the federal budget was well on its way back to the surpluses prior to 9/11. Since the majority changed, however, the federal deficit has quadrupled and the debt has ballooned to $13 trillion – more than $40,000 for every man, woman and child in America.

H.R. 5542, which Rehberg cosponsored, mandates a five percent across-the-board reduction in federal spending that isn’t going toward defense, homeland security or veterans affairs. That cut is roughly equivalent to one made by the state of Montana earlier this year in order to balance the budget.

“When it comes to spending reform, I’ve led by personal example, sponsored legislation and offered amendments,” said Rehberg. “Unfortunately, this majority is more interested in talking about the deficit from previous years than in doing something about the deficit today. That’s got to change, and this bill embodies that.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today released the following statement following today’s report that Montana’s seasonally adjusted unemployment increased to 7.3 percent in June from 7.2 percent in May. Last June, Montana’s unemployment was 6.2 percent. Despite record-level spending on a “so-called” Stimulus, Montana has not seen a reduction in its unemployment since September, 2006.

“Unfortunately, Congress appears intent on killing job creation with a steady onslaught of new taxes, complex federal regulations and a fog of uncertainty that has paralyzed new hiring by small businesses. As I travel around the state, I hear time and again that Washington, D.C. is not only failing to encourage job growth, but it’s actually making things worse and delaying an economic recovery.”

Rehberg recently conducted an email survey of Montanans about job creation. A full 70 percent of more than 3,500 responses indicated that our economy was worse today than when the “so-called” Stimulus passed. 57 percent thought that the “so-called” Stimulus actually hurt the economy while only 18 percent thought it helped. And the vast majority of people surveyed thought that the better path to economic prosperity is smaller government, lower taxes and fewer federal regulations.

WASHIGNTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, this week introduced an amendment to the House Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Bill that would have blocked funding for the enforcement of a particularly ominous new reporting requirement for American small businesses.  The provision – which will require companies to start issuing 1099 tax forms to all vendors  from whom they purchase more than $600 in goods and services – was intended to increase tax revenues to pay for the  health care benefits that don’t even begin until 2012 or later.  Currently, businesses  typically issue 1099 forms only to independent contractors and freelancers receive them each year from their clients.

“Before we even get to the mountains of health care-related paperwork that small businesses are  facing, this tax provision requires Montana small businesses to track every penny they spend over $600 in the course of a year,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriation Subcommittee.  “For example, if a company spends $600 on miscellaneous supplies from the local supermarket, they’ll now be required to submit a tax form reporting that expenditure to the IRS.  That’s time that you could be using building your business and creating jobs.”

A recent poll conducted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce indicated that 68% of small business owners say the government’s regulations hurt the economy and job creation.  Rehberg, who has long fought to reduce required government paperwork, has also co-sponsored H.R. 5141, the “Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act,” which repeals the burdensome new 1099 provision in the Health Care Bill.

“Congressman Rehberg’s effort to halt this egregious tax grab perfectly captures the frustration that Montana’s small business owners have been voicing,” said Riley Johnson, the Montana State Director for the National Federation of Independent Business. “They know this new health care law, with provisions like this, will bury them in paperwork and force them to spend even more money on tax compliance.  Those new costs mean less investment in their business and fewer jobs – the exact opposite of the kind of policies small businesses need to create jobs and jump start our economy.  We look forward to working with pro-small business members like Congressman Rehberg to repeal the 1099 reporting provision once and for all.”

Rehberg’s Amendment would have prevented any funds from being used to implement this provision.  It failed on a strictly party-line vote.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today offered an amendment during the initial stages of next year’s Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Appropriations Bill reducing the cost to the taxpayer by $13 billion.

“While talking about spending freezes next year, House Democrats are blowing up the spending this year to compensate,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Labor, Health and Humans Services, Education Appropriations Subcommittee.  “This slight of hand is at best ineffective and at worst completely dishonest and cynical.  This freeze is empty rhetoric because it won’t actually reduce spending, or even hold it steady.  Montanans expect better.  My amendment essentially implements the spending freeze a year early – locking last year’s funding level in place.”

The national debt has grown to more than $13 trillion, which is more than $42,000 for every man, woman and child in America.  Despite not passing a budget for the coming year, the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Appropriations Subcommittee has requested $176 billion for next year.  That figure was $163 billion this year.  Rehberg’s Amendment reduces the 2011 funding figure to the 2010 level.

“I’ve joined Republicans in forgoing earmarks this year, promising it was the first step toward true comprehensive spending reform,” said Rehberg.  “My amendment gave my Democratic colleagues a chance to actually put taxpayers money where their mouths are, and they said no.  When it comes to fiscal reform, the distinction couldn’t be more clear.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today offered an amendment during the initial stages of next year’s Energy and Water Appropriations Bill reducing the cost to the taxpayer by $1.2 billion.

“While talking about spending freezes next year, House Democrats are blowing up the spending this year to compensate,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee.  “This slight of hand is at best ineffective and at worst completely dishonest and cynical.  This freeze is empty rhetoric because it won’t actually reduce spending, or even hold it steady.  Montanans expect better.  My amendment essentially implements the spending freeze a year early – locking last year’s funding level in place.”

The national debt has grown to more than $13 trillion, which is more than $42,000 for every man, woman and child in America.  Despite not passing a budget for the coming year, the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee has requested $34.7 billion for next year.  That figure was $33.5 billion this year.  Rehberg’s Amendment reduces the 2011 funding figure to the 2010 level.

“I’ve joined Republicans in forgoing earmarks this year, promising it was the first step toward true comprehensive spending reform,” said Rehberg.  “My amendment gave my Democratic colleagues a chance to actually put taxpayers money where their mouths are, and they said no.  When it comes to fiscal reform, the distinction couldn’t be more clear.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, has signed an amicus brief opposing a lawsuit filed by the ACLU to block the implementation of Arizona’s new immigration law.  The brief was written by the Washington Legal Foundation and defends both the practical necessity and Constitutionality of the Arizona law.

“Arizona is just enforcing the federal immigration laws that the federal government refuses to enforce itself,” said Rehberg, the co-chair of the House Northern Border Caucus.  “Ultimately, the federal government ought to be carrying this water so Arizona doesn’t have to, but until that happens, you’d better believe I’m going to support Arizona’s right to enforce their law.”

In April, 2010 the state of Arizona passed the Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act (SB 1070), which required immigrants to carry registration documents that were legally required by federal law.  It also created strict policies that discourage the hiring and transportation of illegal immigrants.  The measure is scheduled to go into effect on July 29, 2010.

In May, 2010, a preemptive Class Action Lawsuit was filed by the ACLU on behalf of fourteen organizations and ten individuals.  The lawsuit challenges the Constitutionality of state action to address immigration policy.

The amicus brief that Rehberg signed makes four points in response to this lawsuit.  First, it states the Arizona law is not preempting existing federal laws governing admission or removal of immigrants.  It’s merely assessing legal status using the federal laws already on the books.  Second, it indicates that federal law explicitly establishes a role for the states in enforcement of immigration laws.  Third, it points out the lawsuit requests that the law be preempted based on speculation about possible outcomes before the law is even implemented.  Finally, it makes the case that because the ACLU objects to only some parts of the law, the lawsuit is overly broad in its attempt to repeal the entire law.

“Imagine if the federal government defaulted on its Social Security responsibility in Florida or its air traffic safety duties in New York,” said Rehberg.  “You can bet those states would be pretty upset.  Well, for a border state like Arizona, illegal immigration is just as much a crisis, and the federal government has sat timidly on the fence.  If the feds aren’t going to do their job, the least it can do is let someone else do it for them.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today voted to end the wasteful practice of posting expensive signs at construction sites around the country indicating that the project is funded by the ‘so-called’ Stimulus.  Rehberg is a cosponsor of H.R. 5679, the End the Stimulus Advertisement Act.  A similar measure failed in the Senate last year (S. Amdt. 2361).

“Montanans overwhelmingly oppose spending their tax dollars on these road signs that serve absolutely no purpose beyond political self-congratulations,” said Rehberg.  “This sentiment was reflected nationally by the votes cast from across the country in the YouCut effort that lets Americans vote on where to cut spending in the federal government.  The ongoing funding of these signs has cost more than $20 million so far, which is why it was the most recent boondoggle to be targeted by the American public for elimination.”

Last year, Rehberg sent letters to Vice President Biden and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood expressing concerns over money being spent to erect road signs that serve no purpose other than to notify drivers that construction projects are funded by the “Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act.”  He criticized the wasteful policy on the House floor (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw7yRzg1wB0) and surveyed Montanans about their opinions.  95 percent of those surveyed said they would rather the stimulus sign funds be used elsewhere.

After the Montana Department of Transportation indicated that they had already spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on these signs, at a cost of $1,746 each, he send a letter to MTDOT Director Jim Lynch, asking him to stop the production of road signs touting that a project is paid for by the so-called “stimulus” act.  He noted at the time that at least six states had voluntarily chosen to spend tax dollars more responsibly.

Aaron Schock introduced H.R. 5679, the End the Stimulus Advertisement Act, earlier this month to prohibit funding for any more “stimulus” highway signs.