Republicans Select Radical MAGA Champion Ted Budd in North Carolina Senate Primary
Washington DC — Last night, Trump-backed candidate Rep. Ted Budd won the GOP Senate primary in North Carolina. During his time in Congress, he has repeatedly voted against measures to lower health care costs for American families, and he proudly supports repealing the Affordable Care Act and its critical protections for North Carolinians. In response, Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse issued the following statement:
“With an abysmal record on health care, it is clear that Ted Budd only wants to continue Trump’s war on health care and raise costs on the American people. He voted against the American Rescue Plan, which delivered lower premiums for millions, he voted against capping insulin costs, and he continues to block Medicare negotiation and expanded access to affordable coverage. Even worse, Ted Budd wants to return to repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act — even as more Americans are covered than ever before. Ted Budd does not represent the hardworking people of North Carolina, and he is not fit to shape our health care laws in the Senate for years to come.”
Ted Budd Wants To Repeal The ACA
2022: Budd Confirmed That He Still Wants To Repeal The ACA. In an interview with the Ruthless podcast in April 2022, Budd called it unfortunate that Republicans still haven’t repealed the Affordable Care Act saying, “We passed health care reform in the house, but unfortunately, didn’t make it to the Senate.” Budd went even further in another radio interview the same day, lambasting Republican senators who missed their “shot” to repeal the ACA by “fighting against President Trump and us trying to overturn it.”
2017: Budd Called For “Nothing Short Of Full Repeal Of Obamacare.” Budd penned an op-ed in April 2017 castigating his fellow Republicans for their insufficient commitment to repealing the ACA. Budd attacked the initial draft of AHCA for not going far enough to repeal essential health benefits and protections for people with pre-existing conditions. Budd concluded, “I will work to fully repeal Obamacare.” Budd eventually voted for the final version of AHCA, which would have ripped coverage away from hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians and ended protections for pre-existing conditions for millions more.
Ted Budd Has Voted Against Lowering Health Care Costs Time And Time Again
2022: Ted Budd Voted Against Capping Insulin Costs At $35 A Month. Budd voted for higher insulin costs by opposing the Affordable Insulin Now Act, legislation that caps out-of-pocket insulin costs at $35 a month for millions of diabetics with private insurance and Medicare coverage.
2021: Ted Budd Voted Against Lower Drug Prices, Lower Premiums, And Expanded Health Care For Millions. Budd voted against the Build Back Better bill in November 2021. BBB gave Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices and capped out of pocket drug spending for seniors at $2,000 a year. The savings from prescription drug price negotiation were used to provide a hearing benefit under Medicare for the first time. BBB also would have extended the premium relief provided to millions of Americans by the American Rescue Plan and provided coverage for 2.2 million Americans in the Medicaid gap.
2021: Ted Budd Voted Against Providing Relief For North Carolina Families With The American Rescue Plan. Budd voted against the American Rescue Plan, which included measures to expand coverage and to dramatically lower health care costs for thousands of families across North Carolina. In addition to providing critical pandemic relief, the ARP lowered premiums for people purchasing coverage through the marketplaces and expanded access to financial assistance for more middle-class families.
2019: Ted Budd Voted Against Historic Legislation To Lower Prescription Drug Prices. Budd voted against the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3), historic legislation to drastically reduce Americans’ prescription drug prices by up to 55% and save taxpayers nearly $500 billion over the next 10 years. H.R. 3 included the most comprehensive drug pricing reform in American history and the largest expansion to Medicare’s vision, dental and hearing benefits in decades.
Ted Budd Supports Rick Scott’s Plan To “Sunset” The ACA And Medicare
2022: Budd Said He Generally Supported Rick Scott’s Blueprint To Raise Taxes On Millions Of Americans And “Sunset” Vital Health Programs. Ted Budd said he generally agreed with the major points of Sen. Rick Scott’s legislative agenda, which would raise taxes on millions of Americans and includes “sunsetting” every federal law after five years – this would include the Affordable Care Act and its protections for millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions as well as the crucial lifelines of Social Security and Medicare.