{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://www.blunt.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ContentRecord_id=f1e9b003-ea13-4e7a-aa2c-1d87d3c4c0fb", "Senator Blunt Votes to Repeal ObamaCare, Protect Missouri Families", "2015-12-03", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Roy Blunt", "B000575", "www.blunt.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) continued fighting to protect Missouri families from the fallout of ObamaCare today, voting in favor of the Restoring Americans Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act to repeal the presidents health care law and clear the way for smarter solutions.\r\nObamaCare has failed to live up to the promises President Obama made when he forced the law through Congress, and Missouri families are paying the price, Blunt said. Premiums are increasing by double digits and the average deductible has reached $2,000. Those who cannot afford coverage face up to a $2,085 penalty next year. Small businesses are holding down hours to comply with the laws burdensome employer mandate. Insurance companies are fleeing the state and federal exchanges, narrowing health care options. And the law will impose a job-killing, trillion-dollar tax hike over the next 10 years.\r\nObamaCare has proven unworkable and unaffordable, and I am pleased that the Senate voted to repeal it today. Having failed to deliver on the promises he made, President Obama ought to sign this bill and pave the way for real solutions that will help more families secure quality, affordable health coverage.\r\nIn remarks on the Senate floor yesterday, Blunt highlighted several solutions that would lower costs and improve access for families, including:\r\n \r\nExpanding access to Health Savings Accounts and allowing qualified participants to use HSAs to pay for premiums;\r\nAllowing small businesses to pool together to offer affordable insurance options to employees;\r\nEnacting meaningful medical liability reform to reduce malpractice insurance costs, leading to increased access for patients;\r\nAllowing consumers to buy insurance across state lines;\r\nExpanding and reforming high-risk pools to provide insurance options for people with pre-existing conditions;\r\nPromoting prevention and wellness programs by giving employers greater flexibility to reward employees who adopt healthier lifestyles;\r\nProhibiting insurers from cancelling a policy unless a person commits fraud or conceals material facts about a health condition;\r\nProhibiting insurance plans from instituting annual or lifetime spending limits; and\r\nImplementing fair tax treatment for people who dont receive their insurance at work.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://www.blunt.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ContentRecord_id=f1e9b003-ea13-4e7a-aa2c-1d87d3c4c0fb"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5303019899874926, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}