Over 1,000 Employers Come Out in Force for Rep. Courtney’s Effort to Scrap the Cadillac Tax

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, 1,084 employers, private businesses, health care stakeholders and others sent a letter urging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) to follow the House of Representatives' lead, and act swiftly to fully repeal the impending 40% excise tax on employer-provided health care plans, known as the "Cadillac Tax", before it further negatively impacts the pocketbooks of hardworking, middle-class Americans. The letter, released today by Alliance to Fight the 40 | Don't Tax My Health Care ("Fight the 40"), can be found here.

"This letter makes plainly clear that we cannot delay repeal of the so-called Cadillac Tax," said Rep. Courtney. "This is not an issue that can wait until 2022 – it's a real problem faced by employers and employees right now in 2019. The House acted decisively earlier this year to finally repeal this policy once and for all in a clear mandate backed by a bipartisan 419-6 vote. As a time when the American people wonder if their representatives in Congress can work together to get things done, here is a perfect example of a broadly bipartisan effort that could easily pass today and make a meaningful difference for millions of Americans. It's time for the Senate to follow the House's lead and vote."

Earlier this year, following a 10-year effort by Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02), the House voted in bipartisan fashion to pass Rep. Courtney's Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act (H.R. 748) by an overwhelming margin of 419-6. The letter sent today by Fight the 40 on behalf of the business community urges the Senate Majority and Minority Leaders to vote on the Senate companion to Rep. Courtney's H.R. 748: S. 684, the bipartisan Middle-Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act. The letter marks a pivotal moment in the fight to repeal the Cadillac Tax, signaling concern from not only patient and disease groups, but also a host of private employers and business community leaders that the consequences of inaction on the Cadillac Tax will negatively impact approximately half of hardworking Americans who receive health insurance from their employer.

Like Rep. Courtney's legislation – which was supported by 369 bipartisan co-sponsors upon its final vote in the House – S. 684 is supported by a broad coalition of 63 bipartisan Senate co-sponsors.

The full letter is available online, click here to read more.

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