Comes on Anniversary of Medicare, Medicaid Being Signed Into Law
Today, the Michigan Democratic Party held a virtual press conference highlighting the importance of expanding health care coverage and reducing the racial disparities in the health care system, and slammed Republican attacks on Medicare, Medicaid, and the ACA.
“The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the urgent, persistent need for affordable and accessible health care to ensure that Michiganders have the testing and treatment that they need to beat this virus,” said Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist. “When voters show up to the polls in November, there’s one party that is focused on expanding access to health care, and that’s the Democratic Party. Joe Biden played a critical role during the negotiations that helped get the Affordable Care Act across the finish line, and he will go further as president to expand health care for more Americans. That’s the choice voters will make when they cast a ballot for Joe Biden, Gary Peters, Jon Hoadley, and the Democratic Party.”
“We are reminding folks just how critical Medicare and Medicaid are for millions of Americans,” said State Representative Jon Hoadley. “As a state representative, I have stood up to protect these critical programs, in contrast to Fred Upton who has joined with President Trump and voted for cuts to Medicaid. If there’s anything this crisis is showing us, it’s that we must expand health care coverage. Now more than ever, in the midst, of a pandemic, we must prioritize expanding quality, affordable health care.”
“55 years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Medicare and Medicaid into law,” said Protect Our Care State Director Dianne Byrum. “Much like the Affordable Care Act, Republicans want nothing more than to gut or outright end these critical programs. We need allies in state governments, the U.S. House and Senate and in the White House to ensure that never again will our health care be threatened in the way it has under the Trump administration. And chief among that list is Sen. Gary Peters. He has worked to protect and improve the ACA that benefits millions of Michiganders. But, John James clearly stands with President Donald Trump and Republicans in Washington, D.C. James has called the ACA a ‘monstrosity.’ And the bottom line is he has no plan to protect people with pre-existing conditions. He’s with Trump and McConnell 2000% — not with Michigan.”
