Landrieu Votes Against Repeal of Health Care Reform Law

Press Release

U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., voted today to stop Republican efforts to repeal the health care reform law signed by President Barack Obama last year. The vote taken tonight was on a motion to waive the Senate's budget rules and allow the chamber to consider repeal of the Affordable Care Act without offsetting the cost. The motion, which required 60 votes to pass, failed by a vote of 47-51.

"People in Louisiana and across the nation made it clear last November that they expected us to come back to Washington focused squarely on creating jobs and reducing the federal deficit," Sen. Landrieu said. "Republicans have responded by making it their number-one priority to repeal the health care law, which would increase the federal deficit by $230 billion over the next 10 years. The health care law that passed Congress is not perfect, and I am open to constructive ideas on how we can improve the law, but I voted for it because it helps Louisiana families and businesses in significant ways.

"Continued repeal efforts might be good politics for Republicans in the short term, but if those efforts succeed, there will be serious, long-term consequences for Louisiana. Tens of thousands of Louisianians with pre-existing conditions will be subject to abrupt termination of their health insurance coverage when they need it the most; more than 25,000 young adults in Louisiana between the ages of 18 and 26 will be at risk of being kicked off their parents' health insurance policies as they struggle to start a career in this tough job market; nearly 50,000 seniors would lose their rebate to help cover their prescription drug costs; and up to 59,700 small businesses in Louisiana will lose access to tax credits helping them afford health insurance for their employees.

"If Republicans are serious about reducing health care costs for families, businesses and government and improving access to quality, affordable coverage for all Americans, they should offer more than just repeal. I applaud Sen. Scott Brown for doing just that. This week, I was proud to join him and Sen. Ron Wyden to reintroduce the "Empowering States to Innovate Act.' The bill would move up, from 2017 to 2014, a provision in the new law that allows states to waive the requirements of the health care reform law if their own proposal could cover the same number of people, ensure the same consumer protections and keep costs within budget.

"I hope others in the Republican Caucus will take the same approach as Sen. Brown. We began discussing health care reform nearly two years ago. I would hope that if Republicans had practical and productive solutions to our health care problems, we would have heard them by now. But when it comes to something this important, it is better late than never. So, I urge my Republican colleagues to make this about more than just repeal. Let's work together make this law the best it can be. No political gain is worth putting the health care coverage of millions of Americans at risk."

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