Rounds seeks Senate action on repeal of Obamacare’s Cadillac Tax

U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD), one of the leaders of a bipartisan bill to permanently end the Cadillac Tax that’s set to be imposed on certain health insurance plans, seeks swift U.S. Senate action on the bill following last week’s approval by the U.S. House of Representatives.

“I’m pleased the House voted to permanently repeal the Cadillac Tax,” Sen. Rounds said. “Too many families are already suffering under Obamacare and unless we repeal the Cadillac Tax, thousands of South Dakotans who get their health care from work are in jeopardy of losing the plans they currently enjoy.”

Sen. Rounds in March introduced the Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019, S. 684, with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) to repeal Obamacare’s 40-percent excise tax — also known as the Cadillac Tax — on high-cost, employer-sponsored health insurance plans.

The same-named H.R. 748 was authored by U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA), who introduced the bill in January with U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT). H.R. 748 received House approval on July 17 with a 419-6 vote.

“The Cadillac Tax repeal bill that Sen. Martin Heinrich and I introduced earlier this year has strong bipartisan support in the Senate,” said Sen. Rounds. “I urge the Senate to quickly pass our bill and get it to the president’s desk so we can permanently repeal this ill-advised tax on middle class families.”

S. 684 is under consideration by the U.S. Senate Finance Committee.