Dave Camp RSS Articles

Camp Announces Request for Federal Funding for Cass River Project

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:00:00 GMT

U.S. Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI) announces a request to fully fund the Cass River Levee Project to prevent seasonal flooding in Spaulding Township. His request was submitted to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for inclusion in the Water Resources Development Act of 2010.

“The Cass River has flooded semi-annually for 30 years, destroying property and creating health risks,” Camp said. “This project is vital to protecting my constituents, as well as their homes and farmland from health risks and property damage that the floods bring. I’m committed to continue working in Congress and with the Army Corps of Engineers to break this vicious cycle.”

The project, located in Spaulding Township, will cost $5.7 million to complete construction of the north and south levees.

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Camp Introduces Solar Jobs Creation Legislation

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:00:00 GMT

Today, U.S. Representatives including Rep. Dave Camp, R-MI, helped introduce bipartisan legislation to boost solar panel manufacturing in the United States.

U.S. Rep. Dave Camp, R-MI, co-sponsored the bill, H.R. 4085, with Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA) which will offer a significant tax credit to solar manufacturers and stimulate job creation in the United States. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) and Patrick Tiberi (R-OH) are also original co-sponsors of the bill.

“Michigan is fast becoming a leader in solar manufacturing, and the bill we have introduced today will further help this industry grow and create much needed jobs,” Camp said. “With the highest unemployment in the country, this is exactly the jobs-creating program we need to focus on, and this sort of manufacturing is just what Michigan needs. As the author of the tax credit for the purchase of electric plug-in vehicles and other alternative fuel vehicles, I have long championed incentives for the manufacture and use of alternative fuels.”

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Democrats' health bill to raise health care costs by $289 billion

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:00:00 GMT

Health care costs will increase by $289 billion if the House Democrats' health bill was enacted, according to the nonpartisan, independent experts at the Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Ways and Means Ranking Member Dave Camp (R-MI) released an analysis he requested from CMS that shows national health care costs will increase significantly – by $289 billion – if the House Democrats' bill (H.R. 3962) was enacted.

“This report confirms what virtually every independent expert has been saying: Speaker Pelosi’s health care bill will increase costs, not decrease them,” said Camp. “This is a stark warning to every Republican, Democrat and Independent worried about the financial future of this nation. I hope my colleagues in the Senate heed CMS’ findings and refuse to rush ahead until any bill under consideration can be certified to actually reduce health care costs.”

In analyzing the House-passed health care bill, the CMS actuaries found the following:

Costs Increase: “In aggregate, we estimate that for calendar years 2010 through 2019 [national health expenditures] would increase by $289 billion.” [Page 12]

Savings Provisions Ineffective: “Most of the provisions of H.R. 3962 that were designed, in part, to reduce the rate of growth in health care costs would have a relatively small savings impact.” [Page 3]

Seniors’ Care Jeopardized: The Democrats' bill would cut Medicare by more than one-half trillion dollars ($571 billion), resulting in doctors and other health providers finding “it difficult to remain profitable and might end their participation in the program (possibly jeopardizing access to care for beneficiaries).” [Page 8]

Employees Lose the Coverage They Have: “[S]ome smaller employers would be inclined to terminate their existing coverage, and companies with low average salaries might find it to their—and their employees’—advantage to end their plans” [Page 7]

Massive Entitlement Expansion: Under the House Democrats' bill, “about three-fifths” or 60 percent of the uninsured who gain coverage would do so by being dumped into Medicaid. [Page 6]

Shortage of Doctors and Hospitals: In stating that “consideration should be given to the potential consequences of a significant increase in demand for health care meeting a relatively fixed supply of health care providers and services,” CMS warns that those in need of care may face long wait lines if the House Democrat bill was enacted. [Page 15]

Background on Health Care Costs: The United States currently spends more than any other country on health care, and twice as amount as the next closest country. Per capita health care spending in the U.S. is already twice as high as the spending rates in Canada and two-and-one-half times higher than those in the UK. There is widespread agreement that this unsustainable. In fact, President Obama’s budget chief, Peter Orszag, said that, “The single most important thing we can do to improve the long-term fiscal health of our nation is slow the growth rate in health care costs.” However, CMS found that H.R. 3962 does the exact opposite. Specifically, CMS predicts that over the next 10 years, national health expenditures will jump by an additional $289 billion.

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Camp honors and thanks our Veterans at 4th District Wreath-Laying Ceremony

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:00:00 GMT

(Remarks as prepared)

This Veteran’s Day, we honor the men and women who served America so valiantly to defend our freedom and protect our country.

As a nation, we gather today in towns across America to say thank you to more than 24 million men and women who have bravely served in times of war and peace. We remember our veterans who have served us in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. We especially remember the veterans at Fort Hood who lost their lives so tragically.

As a community, we say thank you to the men and women from the Midland-based 1460th National Guard Unit who just returned home from the Middle East this past June. Once again I want to say to them, “Welcome home.”

Our veteran’s have shown us the true meaning of service before self. Because of their service, America will always be the land of the free and the home of the brave.

So, as we salute our nation’s heroes, we offer them our undying gratitude. Though we can never repay the debt we owe them, we resolve to live free and make this country the hope of the world.

To our veterans and on behalf of the Fourth Congressional District, thank you for your service, may God bless you, and may God watch over our servicemen and women.

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Camp votes against Democrats' $1 trillion government takeover of health care

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Ways and Means Ranking Member Dave Camp (R-MI) today voted against Speaker Pelosi’s one-trillion dollar government takeover of health care. Following the House vote, Camp issued the following statement:

“Speaker Pelosi chose not to listen to the American people and instead forced through a bill that will cause millions of Americans to lose their current health care, slash Medicare benefits and increase the deficit. The over $730 billion in taxes in this bill will be a crushing blow to an economy that is still hemorrhaging jobs. The mandates in this bill will drive up the cost of health care in America, bankrupt our states and threaten average Americans who dare not to buy the ‘right’ insurance” with jail time.

“American’s health care is way too important to risk on this trillion-dollar, 2,000-page bill that will literally replace the insurance millions of Americans already have with a government-run plan. There is a better way and Republicans offered it. What we should have passed today was common-sense reforms that lower the cost of health care, the first step to comprehensive health care reform.”

NOTE: Yesterday, Camp introduced H.R. 4038, the Common Sense Health Care Reform and Affordability Act. The bill served as the Republican alternative to the Democrats’ health care bill. The Republican bill:

1. Lowers Health Care Premiums: According to CBO, the Republican Alternative would reduce health insurance premiums by up to:

10% for employees who get coverage through a small business (50 or fewer employees)
8% for those who do not have access to employer-provided coverage
3% for employees who get coverage through a large business
All told, under the GOP plan, premiums for millions of families would be nearly $5,000 lower than Speaker Pelosi’s cheapest insurance plan, according to CBO estimates.

2. Guarantees Affordable Coverage for Patients with Preexisting Conditions: The Republican Alternative makes it illegal for an insurance company to deny coverage to someone with prior coverage on the basis of a pre-existing condition. So if you lose your health insurance because you lose your job, move, get divorced, or just want to change plans, you are protected. Through a new Universal Access Program, all patients with preexisting conditions will have access to affordable health care coverage--without waiting lists. The Republican Alternative also prohibits an insurer from cancelling a policy unless an individually knowingly commits fraud on an application form. It also prohibits insurance plans from instituting annual or lifetime spending limits.

3. Protects Seniors Medicare Benefits: Unlike the Pelosi bill, seniors’ benefits are not cut and nothing in the Republican Alternative will increase seniors’ Medicare premiums.

4. No Tax Increases. Period.

5. Encourages Small Businesses to Offer Health Care Coverage, Without Taxing Job Creation: Unlike the Pelosi bill, which punishes small businesses with onerous mandates and exorbitant taxes that CBO says will be passed on the employees in the form of lower wages, the Republican Alternative plan gives small businesses the power to pool together and offer health care at lower prices, just as corporations and labor unions do.

6. Enacts Real Medical Liability Reform: The Republican Alternative saves $54 billion by helping to end costly junk lawsuits and curbing defensive medicine by enacting medical liability reforms modeled after the successful state laws of California and Texas.

7. Empowers the Doctor- Patient Relationship: The Republican Alternative eliminates taxpayer funding of a program that could lead to government intrusion in the doctor-patient relationship and the rationing of care on the basis of cost. Unlike the Pelosi bill that increases taxes and expands price controls on medical devices and prescription drugs, the Republican Alternative promotes innovation and places greater emphasis on prevention and wellness.

8. Prohibits Abortion Funding: The Republican Alternative explicitly prohibits all federal funds from being used to pay for abortion.

9. No Entitlement Expansions Forcing Americans onto a Government-Run Plan: The Republican Alternative avoids a dramatic expansion in entitlement spending and reverses pressure to enact enormous additional tax increases in the future, including on the middle class.

10. Reduces the Deficit: According to CBO, the Republican Alternative reduces the deficit by $68 billion over the next ten years and continues to reduce the deficit in the second budget window.

Camp votes to prohibit taxpayer money from funding abortions

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:50:00 GMT

Upon passage of the Stupak amendment to the Democrats’ health care bill, U.S. Rep. Dave Camp, R-MI, released the following statement:

“I supported the Stupak Amendment as a person who believes in the Right to Life, but also because I believe taxpayers who oppose abortions on morally or religious grounds should not be forced to fund such activity,” Camp said. “The passage of this amendment, however, will not change my opposition to this bill, which is a government takeover of health care.”

Camp Lead Author of The Republican Health Care Bill to Lower Health Care Costs

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:45:00 GMT

Having spent the past nine months developing a comprehensive health care reform package, Ways and Means Ranking Member Dave Camp (R-MI) today introduced the Common Sense Health Care Reform and Accountability Act. The legislation will serve as the Republican alternative to the health care bill crafted by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Twenty-one of Camp’s colleagues co-sponsored the bill, including Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) and Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA).

“Republicans listened to the American people who have been saying loud and clear: lower health care costs,” said Camp, the lead author of the legislation. “This bill will significantly reduce health care premiums, guarantee those with pre-existing conditions have access to affordable health care and increase the number of insured Americans. I am particularly proud to say this bill will reduce premiums for small businesses and their employees by up to 10 percent, and that we did it without increasing taxes, with government mandates and without increasing the deficit. In fact, this bill will reduce the deficit by $68 billion.”

The GOP health care bill will:

• Lower health care premiums – according to Congressional Budget Office data premiums for a family purchasing insurance on their own and not through their employer would be $5,000 less than under the Democrat plan.
• Establish Universal Access Programs to guarantee access to affordable care for those with pre-existing conditions and make it illegal for insurance companies to deny coverage to those who had prior insurance.
• Implement lawsuit reform to end junk lawsuits, saving taxpayers $54 billion.
• Prevent insurers from unjustly cancelling a policy or instituting annual or lifetime spending caps.
• Encourage Small Business Health Plans so these employers could get some of the same benefits and cost reductions larger employers enjoy.
• More than double the wellness incentives, providing up to a 50% premium rebate for those who adopt healthier lifestyles.
• Allow Americans to buy insurance across state lines.

The Republican bill avoids several controversial aspects of the Democrats bill. Under Camp’s health care reform bill, taxpayer dollars could not be used to pay for abortions and illegal immigrants would be barred from receiving taxpayer subsidies.

In contrast to the Pelosi bill, the Republican alternative includes no tax increases and spent far less than the Democrats’ $1 trillion plan. The bill introduced by Camp would spend only $61 billion, but would be completely offset and reduce the deficit by $68 billion. Camp noted it was important to do this without raising taxes, especially when the national unemployment rate spiked to 10.2 percent and Michigan’s remained above 15 percent. Using the methodology developed by Dr. Christina Romer, President Obama’s top economic advisor, the level of taxation in the Democrats’ bill could eliminate another 5 million American jobs.

“That level of taxation just isn’t sustainable,” said Camp. “How are we going to create jobs with all those new taxes? How would employers be able to reinvest? Health care reform should lower costs without raising taxes, and that is what the Republican bill does.”

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Camp floor remarks on HR 3962

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:15:00 GMT

Mr. Chairman,

Republicans have listened to the American people; it is clear from the Speaker’s health care bill, the Democratic majority has not.

The Speaker crafted this bill behind closed doors and added one-thousand pages that have never been before a committee or had any input from the American people.

Just yesterday we confirmed Americans could face five years in jail if they don’t comply with the bill’s demands to buy “approved” health insurance. And who know what else we will discover over time?

Simply put, the health care of the American people is too important and too complex to risk on this gigantic gamble. This bill will do lasting damage to our economy and force millions of Americans to give up their current health care coverage.

With the national unemployment rate spiking to 10.2 percent yesterday, it should be unthinkable to pass this bill which contains more than $730 billion in new taxes that will destroy millions more American jobs.

The Democrats’ bill cuts Medicare by one-half trillion dollars, slashing health care benefits for seniors – a direct violation of the President’s pledge that Americans could keep what they have and like.

The Democrats’ bill – when paired with an unpaid for SGR fix – increases the deficit; a violation of the President’s pledge that health care reform would not add one dime to the debt.

The Democrats’ bill drives up the cost of health care and increases federal spending on health care by $600 billion – a violation of the President’s pledge that health care reform would bend down the cost curve.

So,

(1) you can’t keep what you have and like;

(2) the bill spends over one-trillion dollars while raising taxes, cutting Medicare, and increasing the deficit; and,

(3) it drives up the cost of health care.

The Democrat majority has not listened to the American people. Vote NO.
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PELOSI: Buy a $15,000 Policy or Go to Jail

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Committee Dave Camp (R-MI) released a letter from the non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) confirming that the failure to comply with the individual mandate to buy health insurance contained in the Pelosi health care bill (H.R. 3962, as amended) could land people in jail. The JCT letter makes clear that Americans who do not maintain “acceptable health insurance coverage” and who choose not to pay the bill’s new individual mandate tax (generally 2.5% of income), are subject to numerous civil and criminal penalties, including criminal fines of up to $250,000 and imprisonment of up to five years.

In response to the JCT letter, Camp said: “This is the ultimate example of the Democrats’ command-and-control style of governing – buy what we tell you or go to jail. It is outrageous and it should be stopped immediately.”

Key excerpts from the JCT letter appear below:

“H.R. 3962 provides that an individual (or a husband and wife in the case of a joint return) who does not, at any time during the taxable year, maintain acceptable health insurance coverage for himself or herself and each of his or her qualifying children is subject to an additional tax.” [page 1]

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“If the government determines that the taxpayer’s unpaid tax liability results from willful behavior, the following penalties could apply…” [page 2]

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“Criminal penalties

Prosecution is authorized under the Code for a variety of offenses. Depending on the level of the noncompliance, the following penalties could apply to an individual:

• Section 7203 – misdemeanor willful failure to pay is punishable by a fine of up to $25,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year.

• Section 7201 – felony willful evasion is punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment of up to five years.” [page 3]

When confronted with this same issue during its consideration of a similar individual mandate tax, the Senate Finance Committee worked on a bipartisan basis to include language in its bill that shielded Americans from civil and criminal penalties. The Pelosi bill, however, contains no similar language protecting American citizens from civil and criminal tax penalties that could include a $250,000 fine and five years in jail.

“The Senate Finance Committee had the good sense to eliminate the extreme penalty of incarceration. Speaker Pelosi’s decision to leave in the jail time provision is a threat to every family who cannot afford the $15,000 premium her plan creates. Fortunately, Republicans have an alternative that will lower health insurance costs without raising taxes or cutting Medicare,” said Camp.

According to the Congressional Budget Office the lowest cost family non-group plan under the Speaker’s bill would cost $15,000 in 2016.

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House, Camp, extend unemployment, tax credits that will help homebuyers and America’s small businesses

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:00:00 GMT

The House today passed a bill that will help American families even more by extending unemployment benefits for an additional 20 weeks in 29 states that, like Michigan, have more than 8.5 percent unemployment. Michigan’s unemployment is the highest in the country at 15.3 percent.

Camp said in support of the bill: “We want to help provide those looking for work to survive the downturn. For residents of counties in my district like Clare, whose unemployment rate is 16.8 percent, or Montcalm at 17.6 percent, these extended benefits are a necessary lifeline. This is about helping American families right now. With nearly half our states at double-digit unemployment, it’s clear the Democrats’ stimulus plan has failed to create jobs. I have asked since February, ‘Where are the jobs?’ The Democrats’ plan is not working. Until our economy is back on track and actually creating jobs, we must provide help to those who cannot find jobs.”

The bill is expected to be signed into law by the President as early as tomorrow.

The bill:

· Extends unemployment by 20 weeks, to 99 weeks.

· Extends and expands homebuyer tax credits, including extending the $8,000 tax credit for first time homebuyers to April 30, 2010.

· Helps businesses through a tax credit that will help them reinvest back in their companies – and American workers and our economy.

Earlier this year, Camp warned that the President’s stimulus plan would be slow to take effect and that spending wouldn’t create anything but additional deficit. Camp instead proposed a plan that would create twice the jobs at half the cost. And as unemployment rates continue to rise, he has repeated the call to repeal the current stimulus and instead proposes giving every working family immediate tax relief, and focus on helping small businesses which will immediately help turn around the unemployment rate.

“Americans need immediate relief. We need more jobs, not more unemployment checks. I ask, again, ‘Where are the jobs?’” Camp said.

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