Washington D.C., October 24, 2013 —Thirty two members of Congress have sent a letter to President Obama calling on himto request the resignation of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.
“With more than three years to prepare for the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, we are surprised to see the level of uncertainty, confusion and incompetence that has riddled the Health Insurance Marketplace since October 1,” the members wrote in a letter sent to President Obama this afternoon.
“The Department of Health and Human Services, under the leadership of Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, was entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring an integrated debut of the federal government’s website, HealthCare.gov .The scope of the problem is so great that, were this a private company or military command, the CEO or general would have been fired. We are, therefore, calling on you to hold Secretary Sebelius accountable for the fiasco that is HealthCare.gov and ask for her resignation.”
Members who signed the letter include: Reps. David Schweikert (R-AZ), Jim Jordan (R-OH), Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA), Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Mike Pompeo (R-KS), Tim Huelskamp (R-KS), Kerry Bentivolio (R-MI), Steve Daines (R-MT), Ron DeSantis (R-FL), Jim Bridenstine (R-OK), Randy Weber (R-TX), Ted Yoho (R-FL), Larry Bucshon (R-IN), Andy Harris (R-MD), Alan Nunnelee (R-MS), Walter Jones (R-NC), Louie Gohmert (R-TX), Trent Franks (R-AZ), Paul Broun (R-GA), Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO), Steve Southerland (R-FL), Mo Brooks (R-AL), Roger Williams (R-TX), Vicky Hartzler (R-MO), Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Stephen Fincher (R-TN), Bob Gibbs (R-OH), Jim Renacci (R-OH), Pete Olson (R-TX), Phil Gingrey (R-GA), Steve Stockman (R-TX), and Doug LaMalfa (R-CA).
The letter concluded, “It’s not too late. By calling for the resignation of Secretary Sebelius, you can send a powerful signal that the American people will not be held responsible for her department’s failures. By granting a delay in the rollout of Obamacare, you can ensure fairness for all Americans, not just the select few.”
The letter come as Secretary Sebelius is spending her day in Phoenix, Arizona touring an Obamacare call center.
“Throughout the country there is mass confusion and uncertainty surrounding Obamacare and the online exchange,” said Arizona Rep. Schweikert ahead of Sebelius’ visit. “Secretary Sebelius has a responsibility to step forward and give the American people answers.
Instead of appearing before Congress, the Secretary is touring a call center in Phoenix. She should take this time to give everyone the answers they deserve. How many people have successfully signed up on healthcare.gov? Why weren’t basic best practice guidelines utilized for the opening of the online exchange? How is it possible that after three years and hundreds-of-millions of taxpayer dollars spent, that HHS was caught ‘off-guard’ by website glitches? How much more will it cost to fix what’s wrong?"
You can view a PDF of the letter by clicking here.
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Contact Maggie Zehring: margaret.zehring@mail.house.gov
(202) 680- 9613