Posted by Press Office on March 30, 2010

Washington Democrats want the nation’s employers to think twice about alerting their workers, customers, shareholders, and the publicat large to the financial impact of President Obama’s new health care law, whether it’s AT&T ($1 billion), Deere & Co. ($150 million), Caterpillar ($100 million), 3M ($90 million), AK Steel ($31 milllion), and Valero Energy (up to $20 million.)

The White House blog has been used to question the credibility of these statements. A Cabinet secretary called these public disclosures “irresponsible.” House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) wants to hold hearings and issue subpoenas. These scare tactics are not surprising. Last fall, the Obama Administration issued a gag order designed to keep seniors in the dark about ObamaCare’s massive Medicare cuts.

America’s workers have a right to know how this new law will affect them. As do the millions of retirees who may lose their drug benefits. As do the customers who may have to pay higher prices to cover these losses. As do the small businesses who rely on these companies for telecommunications (AT&T), office supplies (3M), gasoline (Valero), and equipment (Caterpillar, John Deere)? These are the very valid questions House Republicans are discussing with their constituents this week while Democrats are attacking companies having a hard enough time trying to survive this recession without Washington getting in the way.