Congressman Rick Crawford (R-AR) issued the following statement after House leadership announced that the House would vote to delay the individual mandate of ObamaCare this month in response to the Administration’s decision last week to delay the employer mandate portion of the law:

“The Obama Administration’s decision to delay the employer mandate portion of ObamaCare does not go nearly far enough to avoid the crushing burden of this law on Arkansas families once it goes into effect. Individuals stand to lose the most with this decision, as they will be forced to buy expensive insurance without the aid of their employer, just as premiums are estimated to rise up to 400%. I have been a consistent voice on this issue long before the Administration’s decision, voting against any measure that would fund the law and calling on the Arkansas state legislature to reverse its decision to expand Medicaid as we fight for a delay in Washington. Now is the time for House Republicans to take the opportunity to delay the individual mandate portion of the law, sending a strong message to the Administration that this law is not right for America.

“This is too important an issue not to take every opportunity we can to highlight the negative impacts this law will have on our economy and on working families. Adding $1.3 trillion in new entitlement spending over the next decade to an already bloated federal budget is not a responsible approach to governance, especially while our country languishes in a debt crisis that threatens our fiscal future. I will continue to take every opportunity to delay, repeal, and defund this law – including voting against any funding resolution that contains allocations for its implementation. My constituents understand that proceeding full steam ahead with a new $1.3 trillion entitlement program in the middle of a debt crisis is insane, and this would be a good idea only in Washington. I will do everything in my power to represent their voice on this issue.”