Sen. Ron Johnson, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, released a report Tuesday that alleges the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) distributed as much as $750 million to half million individuals who failed to verify their citizenship or lawful presence inside the United States.
“According to HHS, a substantial number of individuals applied for and received subsidized health insurance coverage, despite the Administration’s inability to verify the individuals’ citizenship or lawful presence in the United States,” says the report titled, “Affordable Care Act Premium Tax Credits: HHS and IRS Lack Plan to Recover Improperly Spent Taxpayer Dollars.”
Chairman Johnson’s examination raises serious concerns about the oversight of ACA cost assistance payments. The majority staff estimates that, as of June 2015, approximately $750 million in taxpayer funds have been awarded as tax credits on behalf of individuals who failed to verify their citizenship, status as a national, or legal presence. Chairman Johnson has sought information from HHS and the IRS about how the Administration will recoup wrongfully awarded subsidies. Based on the information that HHS and the IRS provided, the majority staff is concerned that neither HHS nor the IRS has an effective plan to recoup these improperly awarded tax credits.
The new report from Sen. Johnson highlights a few important things.
- Sen. Johnson is actually holding the administration accountable and is uncovering real waste.
- Despite suffering from a name identity issue, Sen. Johnson is invested in his work and is fighting for taxpayers as a committee chair.
- Former Sen. Russ Feingold remains all in on Obamacare, and only lamented the lack of a public option.
- Obamacare continues to raise the price of healthcare premiums on working families while dolling out hundreds of millions of dollars in tax credits without even verifying citizenship or legal status.
“The contrast in this race is clear: Ron Johnson stands with Wisconsin taxpayers and families, and Senator Feingold stands with big government and Bernie Sanders,” spokesman Brian Reisinger said. “Ron believes Obamacare exemplifies all that is wrong with Washington, which is why he’s working toward patient-centered, market-based solutions to replace it. C
areer politician Senator Feingold not only cast one of the deciding votes for this disastrous law – he supports government-run health care, whatever the consequences.”
Chairman Johnson’s charges IRS Commissioner John Koskinen with the “responsibility of recouping funds awarded to ineligible eligible, and must be accountable for that responsibility.”
