Maine Rep. Bruce Poliquin Weighs In On Repeal Of The Affordable Care Act
Congressman Bruce Poliquin (ME-2) announced that he would not support a repeal of the Affordable Care Act without a viable alternative. Here's what he had to say.
In 2015, Congressman Poliquin voted against a repeal without a replacement, saying at the time, "I am against Obamacare. It is hurting jobs, hurting our families, limiting choices. But I need to see a tangible, free-market replacement and this bill does not give us that. I need to see how we're gonna fix this and not just be someone who votes for the 56th time to repeal this."
That same year, Poliquin also put forward his own 14-point plan to implementing a free market solution to help fix the failures of the ACA law.
Since then, several proposals have been put forward to offer alternatives which provide a glide path for ACA policy holders, including those who were forced into "Obamacare" policies due to IRS penalties or because the health care plan caused their own plans to be canceled.
With those proposals being put forward, repeal and replacement of the ACA seemed possible. Recent inaction in the Senate, however, points to the real possibility of not having a replacement for the failing Obamacare law, according to the Congressman's press release.
Rep. Poliquin also stated, "Let's be clear, Obamacare is not working despite what some proponents of the status quo would have us believe. During six years of growing problems, the ACA has cost taxpayers billions and billions of dollars.
It's roll-out nearly failed under collapsing taxpayer-funded insurance exchanges. Thousands of Main families lost their choice of doctors and health plans even though career politicians promised they could keep them. (Speaking of former-President Barack Husein Obama).
Monthly premiums and annual deductibles under Obamacare have been increasing by double digits year-after-year-after-year. Some ignore or forget these straightforward facts, but the rollout and implementation of Obamacare has not performed as sold."
Current discussions in the Senate include passing a repeal without a replacement and sending it back to the House. Others are suggesting the House vote, once again, for a repeal without a replacement. Congressman Poliquin opposes these ideas.