Following the Senate’s Supreme Court confirmation vote on Amy Coney Barrett, Michigan health and labor groups are speaking out and holding John James accountable for promising to vote to confirm a nominee before election day even as voting is underway.
Barrett will likely be the deciding vote in the lawsuit to gut the Affordable Care Act and has a record of hostility to the law which protects 1.7 million Michiganders with pre-existing conditions. But James has proven he’d rather side with Washington Republicans in supporting Barrett even as it may jeopardize health care for Michigan families.
Just like his party’s leaders, James has no plan to protect coverage for Michiganders with pre-existing conditions and if the Supreme Court overturns the Affordable Care Act, 827,000 Michiganders would lose coverage in the middle of a pandemic.
“Amy Coney Barrett’s record shows she’d be a threat to Michiganders’ health care, and the Supreme Court will contend with the lawsuit to gut the ACA in a matter of weeks. But instead of standing with Michigan families who depend on the ACA’s life-saving coverage, John James has promised to be loyal to the president he supports ‘2000%’,” said Protect Our Care Michigan state director Dianne Byrum. “James’ willingness to fall in line with party leaders even when protections for pre-existing conditions hang in the balance, is another reminder that he can’t be trusted to protect our health care.”
“There is so much at stake for working Michiganders – including protections for pre-existing conditions and our right to organize together for better wages and safe worksites – but John James has shown he’ll side with Washington Republicans instead of Michiganders who depend on these protections,” said Michigan AFL-CIO President Ron Bieber. “James’ ‘2,000%’ support for Trump in rushing through a nominee who jeopardizes Michiganders’ health care and protections for workers proves he won’t be an independent voice for Michigan.”
“With Judge Amy Coney Barrett confirmed John James has made clear, yet again, that he stands with Mitch McConnell and President Trump against the people of Michigan. By saying he would vote to confirm Barrett, he reaffirms his support for overturning the Affordable Care Act which provides health coverage to tens of millions of Americans, including people with preexisting conditions,” said Human Rights Campaign Michigan State Director Amritha Venkataraman. “Especially in the middle of a pandemic, we need a Senator like Gary Peters who supports the ACA and would proudly stand up to defend health coverage and people with pre-existing conditions.”
“Michiganders’ health care is at stake with the Supreme Court vacancy, but John James cares more about siding with Trump and McConnell than working families. Michigan deserves a Senator who will always fight for those with pre-existing conditions – we need to re-elect Gary Peters,” said Jennifer Root, SEIU Michigan Executive Director.
“Peters has a long record of standing up for sexual and reproductive care and has been a steadfast champion for the protection and expansion of health care in Michigan and across the country. He is also a champion for affordable health coverage. He understands that 1.7 million Michiganders with pre-existing conditions rely on the Affordable Care Act for care and has repeatedly voted against repealing it. In stark contrast, Peters’ opponent, John James, who is extremely hostile to Michiganders’ health and rights, wants to outlaw abortion and called the Affordable Care Act a ‘monstrosity,’” said Michigan Planned Parenthood Votes.
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