Wyden, Merkley blast Senate vote to repeal ACA

Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement following Senate passage of a reconciliation bill that would repeal parts of the Affordable Care Act:

“The only good news about this flawed reconciliation bill is that it’s about to meet the President’s veto pen,” Wyden said.

“The campaign against women’s health and the trumped up crusade against Planned Parenthood must come to an end. And the millions of families who have gotten high-quality, affordable health care, many for the first time, should not have to worry that an unconscionable act of Congress will take their insurance away and send their health care costs rocketing upwards.”

Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after Senate Republicans voted to pass a plan that would repeal key elements of the Affordable Care Act, taking health coverage away from millions of Americans and hundreds of thousands of Oregonians:

“The Republicans in the U.S. Senate today voted to kick millions of Americans off their health care plans.Their vote today tells single moms with breast cancer, 60-year-olds with Parkinson’s, and so many others that their health and lives are worth less than an ideological crusade.

“Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, hundreds of thousands of Oregonians have been able to access secure health coverage for the first time, and uninsured rates have fallen to record lows.People with chronic diseases who couldn’t get coverage before no longer have to worry.Self-employed entrepreneurs have reliable and affordable coverage. Preventive care is free and children can stay on their parents’ plans through age 26.

“It is absurd and cruel to throw out these gains and go back to a system that rations health care to the healthy and wealthy while leaving those who are less fortunate out in the cold. I look forward to voting to uphold the President’s veto should this misguided legislation come back for another vote in the Senate.”