Perlmutter Votes to Preserve Constitutional Rights, Cut Deficit and Strengthen Middle Class

 For the 31st time, Tea Party Republicans vote to take away patient protections from Americans while doing nothing to create jobs or end outsourcing

 

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) today voted to preserve Constitutional patient rights and uphold the economic security of Americans , while calling on Republican leaders to get to work to create jobs, end outsourcing, and grow our economy.

 

“Americans’ top priority remains job and economic stability, yet Republicans have no plan to create jobs here at home.  Instead, they continue wasting time attempting to take away individuals' constitutional rights to access quality, affordable medical care and reward their friends in the insurance industry,” Perlmutter said.  “It’s time to move on.  We have to work together to put people back to work here in this country.”

 

Today, for the 31st time in this Congress, House Tea Party Republicans voted to repeal or defund the Affordable Care Act, taking away critical rights to insurance coverage for millions of Americans – protections already enjoyed by Members of Congress.  Today, Tea Party Republicans chose to once again deny access to affordable insurance coverage to millions of people with preexisting illnesses, rather than focus on jobs. Republicans chose to protect their friends in the insurance industry by forcing and passing another sham bill that will never become law.

 

Across the country, the Affordable Care Act is improving and enhancing the health of America’s families and workers.  Medical decisions are now in the hands of patients and doctors, not insurance company bureaucrats.  The worst abuses of insurance companies have come to an end, and more Americans have access to quality, affordable health coverage.

 

“A vote to repeal patient protections is a vote to raise costs on seniors, undermine the health of children and students, and put insurance companies back in charge of Americans’ health care,” Perlmutter added.  “Republicans must stop refighting the battles of the past just to score political points.  Let’s start fighting to create jobs here in our country so we have an economy built to last.”

 

Over the past two years, Americans have already seen the positive impact of new patient protections.  In Colorado's 7th Congressional District:

 

  • 29,000 children and 120,000 adults have health insurance covering preventative services without paying co-pays, coinsurance or deductibles
  • 9,000-40,000 children with preexisting health conditions can no longer be denied coverage by health insurers
  • 5,200 seniors in the district received prescription drug discounts worth $2.89 million.  An average discount of $530 per senior
  • Nearly 600 small businesses in the district received tax credits to help maintain or expand health insurance coverage for their employees.

 

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