By Eric Stock
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate is poised to take a procedural vote on Tuesday afternoon to open debate on a Republican plan to repeal and replace Obamacare.
U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Dunlap, told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin and Patti Penn the GOP plan which passed the House is far from perfect, but doing nothing is not an option.
PODCAST: Listen to Scott and Patti’s interview with laHood on WJBC.
“The Senators all think they are a little smarter than the House members,” LaHood quipped. “Well, now is the opportunity to have a full debate. Whatever amendment you want to offer – whether you are Republican or Democrat – to change it, let’s do it and have a deliberative process and hopefully bring relief.”
U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., is expected to return to Washington one week after being diagnosed with brain cancer and could cast a deciding vote to overhaul the Affordable Care Act.
Tax reform
While the Senate takes up proposal health care reforms this week, some House Republicans are turning their attention to tax reform.
LaHood said he believes the House will pass tax reform by the end of the year, which he said would create an economic ripple effect.
“If you bring down those business tax rates from 36 percent which most in Bloomington-Normal – whether you are (BOPI) or you are Destihl Brewery or you are State Farm, you pay the corporate tax rate of 36 percent ,” LaHood said. “This brings it down to 20 percent. That money they save will go into wages for employees, it will go into reinvestment.”
LaHood added there’s a great deal of pent-up frustration to reform the tax code, noting it’s not been done since the Reagan administration.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].
