Braley Opposes Deficit Increase, Health Care Repeal

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bruce Braley (IA-01) voted against Republican efforts to explode the federal deficit by repealing the health care reform law. The Republican plan to repeal last year’s health care reform law would increase the deficit by $230 billion – making it the most expensive one-page bill in history.

"This repeal effort is an irresponsible, partisan ploy. The new majority campaigned on balancing the budget and getting our deficit under control, but their very first legislative initiative would blow a huge hole in our deficit,” said Congressman Braley.

As part of their effort to repeal health care reform, Republicans would also roll back the law’s most popular provisions that protect consumers from insurance company abuses. They would let insurance companies deny coverage to children and adults with pre-existing conditions, prevent young adults from staying on their parents’ plans until age 26 and drop coverage for pregnant women and cancer survivors. Republicans would also raise prescription drug costs for seniors as part of their repeal effort.

“Right now, people all over the first district – and the nation – are seeing real results of the health care law. My nephew was finally able to take a new job, knowing his four-year-old son won’t be dropped from his new health plan because of a liver cancer diagnosis,” said Congressman Braley. “Young adults can take unpaid internships because they can stay on their parents’ health plan up to age 26. Seniors can go to their doctors and get free blood pressure screenings. These provisions in the health care reform law are crucial, and my Republican colleagues would drop them without any sort of alternative plan. That’s simply irresponsible.”

Earlier this week, Congressman Braley introduced a series of amendments with Congressman Welch and over 60 other House Members to protect these and other key provisions from repeal. The Republican leadership rejected these proposals.