The Supreme Court’s ruling this week does nothing to change the fact that President Obama’s healthcare mandate is not working for Arkansas. For my part, I will continue pushing for a full legislative repeal of the President’s healthcare law.

President Obama’s plan is bad policy. The law is incredibly complex and increases uncertainty for small business owners. By requiring employers to buy health insurance for some workers, the President’s healthcare law is actually encouraging employers NOT to hire new employees. And, the mandate creates a huge new entitlement program that our country cannot afford.

Our healthcare system needs common sense reforms like:

• Allowing small businesses to pool together to purchase plans at lower costs;
• Preempting state insurance regulations that prevent individuals from buying the coverage they want;
• Negotiating the bulk purchase of prescription drugs bought by the world’s largest drug customers, the U.S. taxpayers;
• Stopping waste, fraud and abuse of the Medicare and Medicaid programs;
• Adopting meaningful tort reforms to limit truly frivolous lawsuits and exorbitant legal fees;
• Adding technology in rural areas to reduce medical errors;
• Increasing training and jobs for health care professionals in rural communities;
• Eliminating insurance discrimination and pre-existing conditions based on age, health, or genetics;
• Placing a greater emphasis on prevention and wellness

After visiting every hospital in Arkansas’s First District and listening to doctors and nurses, I know access and affordability are the chief barriers to quality care. The President’s law does nothing to make healthcare more affordable or accessible for Arkansas families. Patients need to be empowered and not overburdened with rules and financial penalties from Washington. In the House of Representatives I will continue pushing to repeal every section of the Obama healthcare mandate.