Donnelly, Walorski take stands on health care

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Published: Friday, 13 January 2017 22:55

In separate news releases, U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly and U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski have outlined their positions on Congressional efforts this week to repeal the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

Donnelly says he opposes the effort to "take health care away from Hoosiers," while Walorski has voted for the first step to "repeal and replace Obamacare.

Here are the news releases from two of the Congressional representatives whose districts include Pulaski County.

Donnelly opposes effort to take health care away from Hoosiers

Senator votes against partisan plan to repeal health care law; says it would create chaos, raise premiums, and cause Hoosiers to lose coverage

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Early this morning (Jan. 12), U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly voted against an effort to repeal the health care law, with no plan to cover those who would lose coverage. Donnelly has consistently said that the law is not perfect, has offered many ways to improve it, and has demonstrated his willingness to work with anyone to strengthen our nation’s health care system.

Donnelly said, “Repealing the health care law, with no plan for how to replace it, will create chaos in the insurance marketplace, cause premiums to rise, and take coverage away from Hoosiers and Americans across the country. It also threatens the coverage of Hoosiers with pre-existing conditions and our friends and neighbors using the HIP 2.0 program established by Vice President-elect Pence.

“I am confident that we can make progress if we work together to improve the law rather than pursuing a misguided effort to take health care coverage away from Hoosiers and Americans.”

Earlier this week, Donnelly spoke on the Senate floor about his effort to protect Medicare from privatization and prevent reductions to Medicaid, including to Indiana’s HIP 2.0.More than 200,000 Hoosiers access coverage through HIP 2.0, many of whom are covered for the first time in their lives. HIP 2.0 has also helped Indiana combat the opioid abuse and heroin use epidemics, progress that would be at risk if the law is repealed.

Approximately 2.5 million Hoosiers have a pre-existing condition. 400,000 Hoosiers currently have health care coverage because of the health care law.

Walorski votes for first step to repeal and replace Obamacare

Budget resolution sets stage for Obamacare repeal, stable transition to better health care system

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) today (Jan. 13) voted to begin the process of repealing Obamacare and replacing it with patient-centered reforms that lower costs, increase choices, provide real protections, and put health care decisions back in the hands of patients and their doctors.

“This is the first step toward keeping our promise to repeal Obamacare and replace it with real reforms that put patients first,” Congresswoman Walorski said. “Obamacare is a failed law that is hurting people right now with skyrocketing premiums and dwindling options. Today we set the stage for repeal and a stable transition period toward a better health care system with lower costs, more choices, and strong protections for patients.”

Background

Six years after Obamacare was passed along party lines, the law has failed to deliver on its promises. Families across the country are facing rising costs and fewer coverage options. As part of their Better Way agenda, House Republicans made repealing Obamacare and replacing it with an affordable, stable, and secure health care system one of their top priorities for the 115th Congress.

The House today passed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Budget Resolution (S. Con. Res. 3) by a vote of 227 to 198. The resolution, which earlier this week passed the Senate, is the first step in the process of repealing and replacing Obamacare.

Congress next will begin the reconciliation process, which allows the legislation to pass both the House and Senate with a simple majority, getting the bill to the new president’s desk more quickly. Congresswoman Walorski recently was appointed to the House Ways and Means Committee, which will play a central role in working out details of the reconciliation package, giving her a seat at the table in the repeal and replacement process.

After passing the Obamacare repeal bill, Congress will begin working on the FY 2018 budget resolution, which will include a comprehensive plan to achieve long-term fiscal sustainability.

Walorski represents the 2nd Congressional District of Indiana, serving as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.