U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota), Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, today questioned the nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, Sylvia Burwell, at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee about the Obama administration’s decision to exempt certain union plans from the ObamaCare reinsurance tax, leaving... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) today issued a statement following the Senate Finance Committee’s markup of the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) repeal and replace bill, the SGR and Medicare Beneficiary Access Improvement Act: “I’m pleased to have amendments in the Chairman’s mark and approved by the committee that are important to... Continue Reading
U.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, today issued the following comment regarding President Obama’s latest ObamaCare sales pitch: “The harsh reality facing many this holiday season is cancelled policies, spiking premiums, skyrocketing deductibles, and loss of access to their doctors. But instead of offering relief... Continue Reading
U.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, tonight criticized the Obama administration’s decision to publish (see page 70) a proposed rule that would exempt union health care plans, known as Taft-Hartley plans, from the ObamaCare reinsurance tax, which would likely force other self-insured plans, including those... Continue Reading
Following media reports that the Obama administration is once again trying to find a way to exempt unions from ObamaCare’s numerous taxes and mandates, U.S. Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), and eight of their Republican colleagues today introduced the Union Tax Fairness Act (S. 1724),... Continue Reading
Following media reports about the dropped coverage and higher premiums of Americans across the country, Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) led 33 of his Republican colleagues on the Senate floor today to draw attention to the stories of everyday Americans who are feeling the real world impacts of the president’s broken... Continue Reading
Senators Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), John Thune (R-S.D.) and 18 of their Republican colleagues today urged the Obama administration against moving forward with a proposed regulation that would exempt unions from an Obamacare fee that applies equally to employers, charities, and faith-based organizations. The Centers for Medicare and... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), Member of the Senate Finance Committee, today questioned Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius about the disastrous rollout of healthcare.gov and the administration’s broken promise to the American people that they could keep the health care they have and like, period. “You’ve been misleading the... Continue Reading
U.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, issued the following statement in advance of the president’s speech later this morning on ObamaCare’s technical problems: “In addition to addressing ObamaCare’s embarrassing technical ‘glitches,’ the president has a responsibility to be honest with the American people about the... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) issued a statement today on his vote to defund ObamaCare during the Senate’s consideration of the House-passed continuing resolution (CR): “It is disappointing that Senate Democrats chose to stand with their party bosses rather than defend middle-class families, workers, and employers who are being crushed by... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) and Tom Udall (D-N.M.) issued statements today applauding a recent decision by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that will provide rural hospitals with the staffing flexibility needed in order to satisfy a federal emergency room “on call” staffing requirement. Thune and Udall, who have... Continue Reading
U.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), along with U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.), and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.)– members of the Senate Rural Health Caucus – today introduced S. 1143, the Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services (PARTS) Act, to make sure that rural and other patients have access to a full... Continue Reading
