Braun Statement on Budget Resolution

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mike Braun released the following statement regarding the Senate Budget Resolution for fiscal year 2021, and the attempt by congressional Democrats to push through a $1.9 trillion stimulus package.

“As a business owner, I came to Washington to offer solutions, and it’s incredibly frustrating that President Biden and congressional Democrats have rebuffed attempts by Republicans to work together on a bipartisan economic stimulus package for the American people.

“Nearly $1 trillion of the $4 trillion Congress authorized for COVID relief has yet to be spent, and back home in Indiana people know you should finish what’s on your plate before you go back for seconds.

“Despite the fact that Democrats have forced my hand to oppose their my-way-or-the-highway stimulus, I will still offer solutions that give them the opportunity to help those most affected by the virus while keeping an eye on the debt we are pushing onto future generations.”

AMENDMENTS FILED BY SENATOR BRAUN TO S.CON.RES.5 (SENATE BUDGET RESOLUTION):

Protecting Jobs for Americans:

Braun #49 — “To create a point of order against legislation that would result in a private sector mandate related to minimum wage.”

• This amendment would seek to deter legislation that results in job-killing private sector mandates.

Braun #50 — “To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to deterring the elimination of the tip credit under section 3(m) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 during a federally declared emergency with respect to COVID-19.”

Braun #51 — “To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to deterring the elimination of the tip credit under section 3(m) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.”

• Eliminating the tipped employee credit eliminates flexibility from employers in how they structure their workplaces, often leading to reduced wages in reality and increased labor costs for our nation’s restaurants and other employers of tipped employees.  This is bad policy, especially at a time when these businesses have already been hit hard economically by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
• According to a study released in January 2021 by the Employment Policies Institute, Indiana alone would lose an estimated 694,653 jobs, disproportionally in the restaurant industry, due to the wage increase and elimination of the tip credit.

Braun #167 — “To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to a permanent extension of the deduction for qualified business income.”

• This amendment seeks to preserve an important piece of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act for the nation’s job creators.

Braun #168 — “To establish a deficit- neutral reserve fund relating to prohibiting the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from proposing, finalizing, or implementing any rule or guidance that bands fracking in the United States.”

• This amendment seeks to preserve key energy security policies that helped bring the United States out of the great recession, and provided millions of Americans with affordable, clean energy options.

Deterring Increases in the National Debt and Deficit:

Braun #165 — “To create a point of order against reconciliation legislation that would increase the deficit or reduce a surplus.”

• This amendment seeks to reintroduce a budgetary enforcement rule meant to deter deficit spending.

Braun #164 — “To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to ending electric vehicle subsidies for the wealthy.”

• This amendment seeks to avoid providing unnecessary taxpayer-funded subsidies for the wealthy as it pertains to electric vehicle tax credits.

Health Care Related Amendments:

Braun #289 — “To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to improving hospital and health insurer price transparency.”

• With many different stakeholders’ hands in the mix, our opaque and complex healthcare system makes it difficult for Americans to know the true price of their healthcare. Providing transparency will force providers and insurers to lower their rates, making prices clearer and more affordable for consumers.
• Disclosing discounted cash prices and negotiated rates to consumers before they receive medical care would empower Americans to shop for the services they need at a price that fits their budget.

Braun #287 — “To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to establishing transparency around pharmacy benefit managers and prohibiting anti-competitive pharmacy benefit manager practices with respect to Medicare part D.”

• Pharmacy Benefit Managers’ (PBM) drug rebates reward increased list prices because higher rebates are favored over lower costs. These high list prices can hurt patients, as copays and deductibles for drugs are often based on the drug’s list price.
• Providing transparency into how the rebate process works will prevent PBMs and insurers from driving up rebates to get a larger cut and allow the rebates to trickle down to patients.

Braun #290 —“To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to providing for qualified health plans with a copper level of coverage.”

• Obamacare provides limited plan options and forces many health care consumers to pay more in monthly premiums than they can afford.
• Copper health plans would provide an affordable option for consumers looking to get healthcare coverage on a budget.

Braun #288 — “To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to improving transparency in the 340B program.”

• The 340B program allows healthcare organizations to receive pharmaceuticals at significantly reduced prices.
• It’s commonsense to want transparency in programs that use federal money to subsidize dozens of billions of dollars in medicine purchases each year.