GOP: Obama policies 'anti-growth'

Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) panned taxes and regulations contained in the healthcare overhaul and other programs, saying they prevent small businesses from hiring new employees.

In the weekly Republican address, Johanns said the experience of small-business owners in Nebraska shows the administration's "promise to support small businesses really rings hollow."

He noted that one provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act — passed in March — will create expensive and unnecessary paperwork for owners, and that the new Medicare tax will "hit businesses that employ between 20 and 200 workers especially hard."

“You’re signaling to the business owners that they best be very cautious, not only because of the flurry of new taxes and regulations, but also because a national energy tax is next on your agenda," he said, addressing Obama.

Under the healthcare reform bill, businesses must complete paperwork from the IRS when they spend more than $600 on goods from another business. A similar regulation in the past only applied to services of above $600.

“This foolish policy hammers our business community when we should be supporting their job growth," Johanns repeated.

The Nebraska Republican has pushed to annul this portion of the overhaul before the Senate recesses.

Meanwhile, in the House, a vote to repeal failed Friday night after Democrats added corporate taxes to the bill, inhibiting Republican support.

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