Congressional Candidates Take Party Lines on Obamacare Ruling

Keeping in line with traditional red and blue politics, candidates in the race for U.S. Representative, 36th Congressional District, each weighed in Thursday on the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold healthcare reform.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act—often referred to as “Obamacare,” originally passed in 2010 and has been seen by many as President Barack Obama's landmark legislation.  l.

Incumbent Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack, (R, CA-45), called the ruling a setback for our healthcare industry, issuing the following statement:

“The Supreme Court’s disappointing decision is a huge setback for health care in America and confirms that Obamacare is the largest tax increase in American history.  Clearly, some – if not all – of Obamacare should have been thrown out on constitutional grounds.  The President’s 1,000 page, $1 trillion boondoggle is already hurting our economy by driving up health care costs for Americans and making it extremely difficult for small businesses to create new jobs.  Obamacare is a confusing, complicated and costly mess which will eventually lead to Washington bureaucrats making health care decisions instead of patients and their doctors.  It’s terrible policy.

“There are much better ways to ensure that no one can be denied coverage because of a pre-existing medical condition, children can remain on their parents’ insurance plan until they’re 26 years old, and seniors will continue to get the help they need paying for expensive prescription drugs without resorting to government-dictated health care.  We need to scrap Obamacare immediately and start over.”

Bono Mack’s challenger, Emergency Room Doctor Raul Ruiz, a democrat, took a different stance on the issue, praising the court’s decision and slamming Bono Mack’s opposition.

Ruiz issued this statement:

“The Supreme has now resolved the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, ensuring that people with preexisting conditions, students, the middle class and thousands of small businesses will have access to affordable health care.

Clearly, there is more work to be done to improve the health care system, and as a doctor, I am uniquely positioned to help make that happen.

In contrast, Mary Bono Mack is on the side of big insurance companies and would let them deny coverage to thousands of local residents, and thousands more who cannot afford care.

We need a congressperson who will work to end gridlock, fight for the middle class and put people back to work, not one who creates gridlock for political gain.”