WASHINGTON, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- President Obama's policies are "fundamentally flawed," a Republican congressman said Saturday, targeting the president's healthcare law.
Rep. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, delivering the GOP's weekly address, blamed Obama' policies for "causing" problems experienced by his constituents and other Americans.
"Elizabeth, from Pulaski County, Arkansas, knows this all too well," said Cotton. recounting a constituent's issues with the law. "Elizabeth gets insurance through her employer, but her monthly premiums have risen 85 percent because of Obamacare's new coverage mandates. She's now forced to pay for things she does not want and can't afford, simply because Washington politicians and bureaucrats think they know what's best for her and her family."
"Her story shows us that this law and the President's policies are fundamentally flawed," he added. "They're wrong for Arkansas, and they're wrong for America."
Related
- Iowa City, Iowa, ranked best access to affordable healthcare
- Judge, Notre Dame attorney spar over law's contraception mandate
- Gallup: 17 percent uninsured adults drops to 16 percent
- 27 percent of January online marketplace enrollees ages 18-34
- Study: Healthy enrollees more important than young to insurance costs
Republicans picked Cotton for the weekly presentation because he is in a tough Senate race with incumbent Mark Pryor, Roll Call reported.
In his own address, the president focused on congressional Republicans' resistance to raising the federal minimum wage.
Six states have already increased their minimum wage, Obama said, and the federal bill to raise the minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 would held 16 million Americans.
"But even though a majority of Democrats, independents, and Republicans across the country support raising the minimum wage, Republicans in Congress don't want to give it a vote," he said.
"Hardworking Americans deserve better than 'no'," he added. "Let's tell Congress to say 'yes.' Pass that bill. Give America a raise. Because here in America, no one who works hard should have to live in poverty -- and everyone who works hard should have a chance to get ahead."
