As you are all aware the Supreme Court ruled that the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) is Constitutional. This means that states will have to work with the Federal Government to ensure that everyone has access to affordable health care. The ACA has already helped millions of middle and lower class Americans receive health care they would not have been able to afford before. It has also allowed parents to cover their children until they are 26 years old. This allows children to be fully covered even after they graduate from college and try to find work that even offers health care options. The ACA has also helped millions of Americans who have been denied health care due to pre-existing conditions.
These are only a few of the benefits that the Affordable Care Act has accomplished. Now we need to start building the ACA at the state level. We need a Governor and a Legislature to work with health care providers and Medicare/Medicade to allow those people in New Hampshire access to this program.
It has already become clear that the Affordable Care Act will be a huge talking point for both sides during this election. The Democrats are praising the ACA for finally having a program to give health care to all. While the Republicans are already fighting against it. NH Governor candidate Ovide Lamontagne released a statement that makes it clear where he stands on the ACA.
Ovide's Statement on Supreme Court Obamacare Decision: "Today’s Supreme Court ruling is truly a disappointment and represents an infringement on the freedoms and liberty of every citizen in New Hampshire, and throughout our country. The Court ruling opens the door for continued Federal intrusion into the lives of every American, further erodes the Tenth Amendment protections of the 50 states, and confirms what we already knew – that this law results in a massive tax hike on the middle class. Since I announced my candidacy for Governor, I have made clear that opposing Obamacare is a top priority, and that if elected, I will take all steps necessary to oppose its implementation. A mandatory one size fits all national approach to health care will not work, and certainly does nothing to address the ever increasing costs of health care, which is a pressing concern for New Hampshire families and businesses alike.
As Governor, I would join with like-minded governors across the country in continuing to fight by any means necessary Federal overreach into this important sector of our economy. I will work to strengthen recently enacted state laws designed to exempt New Hampshire residents from many of the law’s mandates. At the same time, I will use my experience in the health care field to bring together the state’s health care, business, and community leaders with the goal of enacting market based solutions that will preserve individual choice and control health care costs.”
"Opposing Obamacare" will be his top priority! We do not need a Governor who will fight against the Federal mandates, we need to have a Governor who will push to expand the program. After the verdict on ACA was announced President Obama said:
"If you’re one of the more than 250 million Americans who already have health insurance, you will keep your health insurance — this law will only make it more secure and more affordable."
The ACA is not trying to take away your health care options or reduce your coverage. If you are lucky enough to already have health insurance that is great. You will only benefit from the ACA. Ovide on the other hand wants to take that all away to allow the wealthy corporations to determine how much your costs will be and who is covered. We would not have needed the ACA is insurance companies were already covering everyone and provide health care to the millions of Americans who could not afford it.
Who is Ovide really trying to help, the middle class or the wealthy corporations?
(Fun image to share can be located at NHLaborNews.com)