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Press Release Published: Feb 2, 2012

Oversight Chairman Issa Statement on House Vote to Repeal CLASS Provisions

(WASHINGTON)—Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) released the following statement on the House vote to pass H.R. 1173, the CLASS Act Repeal.  The Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) program was established as part of President Obama’s healthcare act and would have created a voluntary national program to provide insurance coverage to purchase community living services for disabled Americans and those requiring long-term care.  The program, however, immediately faced criticism from government and healthcare experts regarding the program’s viability and financial solvency and risk to taxpayers.

“Over the last year, members of the bicameral repeal CLASS working group have worked to point out to the Administration and to the public the flaws of this program.

“Our message was clear: the Obama Administration created the CLASS program as an accounting gimmick to offset the staggering costs of its health care program.

“Congress has the responsibility to protect taxpayers from failed and ill-conceived programs—today’s vote to repeal the CLASS program provisions is a step towards reversing one of the many flaws in the President’s health care law.  Job creators across the country have raised questions about the cost, implementation and red tape of the health care law, and our work continues to ensure that these job creators and taxpayers are not unfairly punished by a law that was rushed into place without adequate transparency or public review.”

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