12.04.15

Hoeven Statement on the Senate Repealing Obamacare, Defunding Planned Parenthood

Budget Reconciliation Bill Takes Step toward Repealing, Replacing Obamacare

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement in response to Senate passage of a budget reconciliation bill that repeals Obamacare and defunds Planned Parenthood.

“The Senate today repealed Obamacare and eliminated more than a trillion dollars in taxes created by the law, including taxes on some benefit plans and the tax on medical devices. The bill also reduces the deficit by almost $400 billion over the next ten years.

“This is the first step in replacing Obamacare with a step-by-step approach that restores choice and competition to the health insurance market. That step-by-step approach includes combining high deductible policies with health savings accounts, allowing businesses to pool their employees to get discounted premium rates, allowing insurers to compete across state lines and maintaining state high risk pools for people who have difficulty accessing affordable insurance. The measure also extends the Medicaid expansion under Obamacare for a two-year period so that people do not lose their health care insurance until a suitable replacement can be put into place for them.        

“In addition, the measure defunds Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider, and transfers responsibility for women’s health care services to local community health centers. There is no Planned Parenthood facility in North Dakota, but there are 16 community health centers located across the state, which means women will have broader access to quality care.”

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