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Today, Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) issued the following statement after voting in support of the Fiscal Responsibility and Retirement Security Act (H.R. 1173), which would cut a financially unstable long-term care insurance program under the President’s health care law.

“During congressional hearings on the program it was revealed from administration witnesses that the CLASS program was unworkable, and yet the administration continued to plow ahead with implementation of the program for 19 months and even requested $120 million for fiscal year 2012. Given what we know about the administration pushing an insolvent program, their word isn’t sufficient, we need legislative action to ensure the program will definitely be suspended,” said Rep. Latta

On October 14, 2011, the Obama administration admitted the program is unworkable and halted efforts to establish the program, which would cost $81 billion over the next ten years. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said this was not “a viable path forward for CLASS implementation at this time.”

“It is not enough that the Administration has stated that they are ‘suspending’ the program – the CLASS Act must be fully repealed in the law,” added Rep. Latta.

Unless, the Senate repeals the Community Living Assistance Services and Support (CLASS) Act before its implementation date of October 1, 2012, courts could force the administration to implement the program.

“I will continue to work with my colleagues toward health care solutions that are patient-centered and fiscally viable,” added Rep. Latta.

A congressional working group’s investigative report revealed that the law’s authors and the White House were warned by CMS Chief Actuary Rick Foster that “this program would collapse in short order.” A copy of the report can be found here.