An Important First Step Toward Repealing Obamacare
‘Seven years after Obamacare was imposed on our country, we will vote on the critical first step to finally move beyond its failures. Many of us have made commitments to our constituents to provide relief from this failed left-wing experiment. And now, we have a real opportunity to keep those commitments by voting to begin debate and, ultimately, to send smarter health care solutions to the president’s desk for his signature.’
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) made the following remarks on the Senate floor today regarding the Senate Republican effort to repeal Obamacare:
“I’d like to start this morning with a few words about our friend and colleague from Arizona, Senator McCain, who we’ll welcome back today. As I noted last week, Senator McCain is a fighter. That’s evidenced by his remarkable life of public service, just as it’s again evidenced by his quick return to the Senate this afternoon. I know he’s eager to get back to work, and we’ll all be very pleased to have him back with us.
“Now on the vote that we’ll have today. In just a couple of hours, Senators will have an important decision to make. Seven years after Obamacare was imposed on our country, we will vote on the critical first step to finally move beyond its failures. Many of us have made commitments to our constituents to provide relief from this failed left-wing experiment. And now, we have a real opportunity to keep those commitments by voting to begin debate and, ultimately, to send smarter health care solutions to the president’s desk for his signature.
“Just yesterday, the president reiterated his intention to sign them. Just yesterday, the administration released a statement urging all Senators to vote in favor of the Motion to Proceed so that we can, quote, ‘move forward on repealing Obamacare and replacing it with true reforms that expand choice and lower costs.’
“I’d like to again express my appreciation to the administration for its continued close work with us on this issue at every step of the way. From the president and vice president to Secretary Price and Administrator Verma, as well as so many others, the engagement we’ve seen has been important to our efforts, and it has sent an unmistakable signal to the country that this administration not only understands the pain middle class families have felt under Obamacare but is actually committed to doing something about it.
“By now, we’re all keenly aware of the pain that Obamacare has caused for millions of families.
Premiums have skyrocketed under Obamacare — doubling on average in the vast majority of states on the federal exchange. Insurance options have declined under Obamacare — leaving many with as few as one or even zero insurers to choose from. Many Americans now face the real possibility of having no options at all and could find themselves trapped, forced by law to purchase Obamacare insurance but left by Obamacare without any means to do so. All the while, markets continue to collapse under Obamacare in states across the country. It’s a troubling indication of what’s to come — unless we act.
“Fortunately, the American people have granted us the opportunity to do so. We finally have an administration that cares about those suffering under Obamacare’s failures and a president who will sign a law to do something about it. We have a House that recently passed its own legislation to help address these problems. And we have a Senate, with a great charge before us to do our part now.
“If other Senators agree, and join in voting ‘yes’ on the motion to proceed, we can move one step closer to sending legislation to the president for his signature. I hope everyone will seize this moment. I certainly will. Only then can we open up a robust debate process. Only then will Senators have the opportunity to offer additional ideas on health care. Inaction will do nothing to solve Obamacare’s problems or bring relief to those who need it. In fact, it will make things worse for our constituents across the country.
“I’d like to reiterate what the president said yesterday. ‘Any senator who votes against starting debate,’ he said, ‘is telling America that you are fine with the Obamacare nightmare…’ That’s a position that even Democrats have found hard to defend. Remember President Clinton called Obamacare ‘the craziest thing in the world’ and a Democratic Governor said it’s ‘no longer affordable.’ You won’t hear me say this often, but they’re right.
“So I hope colleagues will consider Obamacare’s history of failures — the unaffordable costs, the scarce choices, the burden on middle class families — as they cast their vote this afternoon. I would urge them to remember the families who are hurting under this collapsing law.
“Numerous Kentuckians — like so many others across the nation — have conveyed their heartbreaking stories with my office through phone calls, letters, meetings, and dozens of health care forums all across Kentucky. These families are suffering under Obamacare, and they need relief. I will be thinking about them as I vote to proceed to the bill today. I know many other colleagues will do the same.
“Our constituents are hurting under Obamacare. They are counting on us to do the right thing right now. That means voting to allow the Senate to finally move beyond Obamacare’s failures. That’s what intend to do. That’s what I urge every colleague to do. We can do better than Obamacare, and we have a responsibility to the American people to do that. Today’s vote to begin debate is the first step. We should take it.”
Related Issues: Obamacare, Health Care
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