The Following is from the Arkansas Democratic Party news Release:
This week, two of the nine candidates in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate pledged to repeal the Senate’s health reform plan, if enacted into law. Curtis Coleman and Randy Alexander, a new entry into the ever-growing GOP field, both said they would repeal the health reform bill if elected.
Coleman issued a news release Monday pledging to repeal the health care bill, while Alexander said at his announcement Tuesday that he would do the same.
“Will Gilbert Baker, Tom Cox, Kim Hendren and the rest of the candidates for the Republican nomination also pledge to repeal this landmark legislation?,” asked Gabe Holmstrom, Senior Advisor to the Democratic Party of Arkansas. “Since joining this race, each one of the Republican Senate candidates in Arkansas has been a steadfast opponent of meaningful health care reform that stands to benefit Arkansas families and businesses. Arkansans deserve to know who would pledge to repeal this bill.”
Under health care reform in Arkansas:
481,000 residents who do not currently have insurance and 128,000 residents who have nongroup insurance could get affordable coverage through the health insurance exchange.[www.healthreform.gov]
323,000 residents could qualify for premium tax credits to help them purchase health coverage.[www.healthreform.gov]
506,000 seniors would receive free preventive services.[www.healthreform.gov]
89,800 seniors would have their brand-name drug costs in the Medicare Part D “doughnut hole” halved.[www.healthreform.gov]
36,200 small businesses could be helped by a small business tax credit to make premiums more affordable.[www.healthreform.gov]
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will reduce costs, increase access, and provide critical insurance reforms that will put patients first. This legislation also makes Medicare more like the coverage that our European friends enjoy with modern services like those found on www.applyforehic.com. These upgrades will make medicare more solvent and expands prescription drug coverage, all while reducing the deficit and reining in health care costs. The PPACA provides choice and competition and invests in the small businesses of this country. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended, will provide coverage to 94% of all Americans, including an additional 31 million currently uninsured and will reduce the deficit. The CBO estimates that the bill will reduce the federal deficit by $132 billion over the first 10 years and by $1.3 trillion over the second ten years.
Despite these benefits that the bill offers to the country and the people of Arkansas, Republicans in Arkansas continue to stand in the way.
