Washington, D.C. – Following Andy Kim’s victory over Tom MacArthur in New Jersey’s third district, Leslie Dach, founder and chair of Protect Our Care, released the following statement:
“Tom MacArthur was the face of the GOP’s health care repeal and the face of what is wrong with Washington. The MacArthur Amendment was the fig leaf Republicans hid behind as they giddily voted to take away protections from 130 million Americans with pre-existing conditions. Tom MacArthur paraded around as a moderate friend of health care while driving the Republican war on health health care. He never faced a close election until this year, when Andy Kim, a health care champion, ran on maintaining the protections Americans count on and turned a seat that had been Republican-held for all but one term over the previous 26 years blue. Tom MacArthur, good riddance.”
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Andy Kim Appears With Care Force One: On September 26, Andy Kim appeared at Care Force One’s stop in Willingboro, New Jersey. “I’m the father of two baby boys, and my youngest baby was someone who had significant health problems right from the very beginning,” he said. “I remember when the doctors told us that he was dangerously underweight and had real risk. And it reminded me of how many families in this country and this community have health care crises and are unsure of how they’ll be able to afford it.” [Protect Our Care, 9/26/18]
New Jersey Voters To Tom MacArthur: “You Are The Reason I Can’t Sleep At Night.” “The American Health Care Act wouldn’t have passed had MacArthur not come up with a provision that won the support of the House Republican conference’s most conservative members. MacArthur’s amendment allowed states to seek waivers from the federal requirements that insurers offer a specific package of benefits and not charge more to those with pre-existing conditions such as cancer or diabetes. The more than 300 people who filled the John F. Kennedy Center here let the lawmaker know time and time again what they thought of his efforts to pass legislation. ‘You brought it back from the dead,’ said Derek Reichenbecher, a teacher from Point Pleasant. ‘It’s yours. You own it.’ Geoff Ginter’s wife Colette is free from cancer, but they’re worried that the illness will return and that they won’t be able to pay for her treatment should he lose his job as certified medical assistant. ‘You are the reason I can’t sleep at night,’ Ginter, of Pine Beach, told MacArthur. ‘You came after my wife.’” [NJ.com, 5/7/17]