NEW: Doherty Blasts Washington Insiders on Obamacare

Thursday, July 12, 2012

GoLocalProv News Team

Republican Congressional candidate Brendan Doherty today criticized the "irresponsible, out-of-touch, and offensive behavior" of Washington insiders in response to ongoing discussions regarding health care reform.

Doherty faulted both parties for placing political gain ahead of the well-being of American families and expressed disgust at the offensive actions of highly paid health care lobbyists and consultants who are sponsoring a “White Trash” reception for Congressional staffers on Capitol Hill.

“Washington, DC insiders, by seeking to exploit this issue for purely political gain, are doing a disservice to the American people,” he said. “The immediate response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding the Affordable Care Act was understandably emotional for parties on both sides of the issue,” Doherty continued. “Instead of gloating and taunting the opposition, however, Democrats in Washington should have taken a moment to listen to the concerns of small business people from across the country, citizens who are very apprehensive about the significant financial burdens that the Affordable Care Act will impose. Rather than celebrating a divisive, partisan triumph and calculating their opportunity to score political points, Democrats would have been well served to acknowledge and address the concerns of all of their constituents.”

Doherty also faulted Republicans in the House of Representatives for voting to repeal the Affordable Care Act without offering any alternative proposal, particularly with the knowledge that the Senate likely will not take up the repeal and the promise of a Presidential veto, if necessary. Doherty has stated publicly that he considers the current plan “unwise, unworkable, and ultimately unaffordable,” while calling repeatedly for a lasting solution for health care reform, to be reached through agreement among Democrats and Republicans in the spirit of the landmark Social Security and Medicare programs. Doherty has lauded the goal of attaining universal health care coverage and recognizes the ongoing debate as an opportunity to achieve a bipartisan solution that will expand coverage, streamline delivery and control costs, without imposing yet another tax on the middle class and our small business community.

“This symbolic vote to repeal, without any alternative proposal, offers no hope of relief for the middle class and neglects the continuing need for a responsible, cooperative and lasting approach to health care reform,” he said. “Americans have come to understand the importance of several key provisions of the Affordable Care Act, including coverage for those with pre-existing conditions, expanded Medicare Part D benefits and health care coverage for young adults through family insurance plans. It is essential that Congress consider these provisions in crafting a solution to expand coverage while making credible strides toward controlling the exploding cost of health care for both government and the private sector. I would support an effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act in favor of an alternative including, at the least, these widely supported provisions.”
 

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