Carper Statement on Health Care Vote

WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, released the following statement after voting against moving forward on the Republican plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The motion was agreed to with a vote of 50-50, and a tie-breaking vote for the measure cast by Vice President Mike Pence.

“During my forty years in public office, including 17 years here in the United States Senate, I have never seen anything like what happened today. After weeks of pleading from Americans from across this country asking that Congress do them no harm, Senate Republicans forced this body to move forward on an effort to dismantle our health care system. What’s worse is that we do not even know what bill we’ve been forced to consider. 

“For weeks now, I’ve said that this clear opposition from millions of our constituents and every major patient and health care group should serve as a sign that we should hit the pause button. Obamacare is not perfect, but the people who sent us to Washington expect us to do bipartisan work to make it better, not pursue a misguided political victory at any cost. If we in the Senate let the people be our guide, we will work across party lines to ensure every person has access to better care for less money. 

“I’m disappointed by what happened today, but I’m more focused than ever on doing what’s right. My Democratic colleagues and I are going to fight like hell to protect the people of this country. I hope my Republican friends will join us.”

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