Washington State Democratic Party Chair Tina Podlodowski offered the following statement on the Senate’s vote to proceed to debate on repeal of the Affordable Care Act:
“Today is a shameful day for the U.S. Senate. Republicans have just voted to move forward on the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, something we know will end health care coverage for tens of millions of Americans, send insurance premiums through the roof, and slash essential protections for women, seniors, and those with pre-existing conditions. It’s despicable how they have slammed this effort through the Senate with no hearings, no transparency, and no effort to work with Democrats to actually make health care better in this country. Republicans have made their priorities crystal clear with this vote – they will end health care for millions in pursuit of passing one of the biggest tax cuts in history for the richest 1%. It’s completely backwards.” “I want to thank our Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell for voting against this effort to slash health care for millions of Americans. They are true champions for Washington state and we’re lucky to have them fighting for us in D.C. as the effort to save health care continues and the Senate moves towards a final vote.” “The irony is not lost on millions of Americans that the Republican Senators who voted to take away their care enjoy one of the best healthcare plans in the nation. We will fight at the ballot box to turn these folks out of office, but especially to make sure their House Republican colleagues in Washington State – McMorris Rodgers, Reichert, Herrera Beutler and Newhouse – are turned out of office in the 2018 elections.”
