Dupage Policy Journal

U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-IL) submitted a letter to the editor of the Northwest Herald that was published on Friday.

In the piece, Hultgren argues that sound tax policy is "a tool often wielded to avert or incentivize certain behaviors."

He specifically referred to the Affordable Care Act and that Washington's reason for taxing health insurance plans and medical devices was to make health care more affordable.

"Given tax policy’s incentivizing nature, it’s disconcerting the ACA taxes a product Americans are required to purchase," Hultgren wrote.

Hultgren said the health insurance tax is expected to cost families an additional $360 per premium, and that Illinois will shoulder nearly $400 million in new premium costs through 2023.

Also, the medical-device tax has led to 14,000 job losses and prevented the creation of 19,000 new positions, Hultgren said. The total employment impact could be up to 165,000 jobs.

"The ACA is not living up to its promise of affordability," Hultgren said in the letter. "I have co-sponsored the three bills in the House that would repeal these costly and misguided taxes and move toward a more affordable health care system for Illinois individuals, families and businesses."