ICYMI: Mike Cooney and First Montanan to Sign Up for Medicaid Expansion Call Out Greg Gianforte For Supporting Efforts to Undermine Montanans’ Health Care

Cooney: “We must be honest — getting rid of the Affordable Care Act will be terribly destructive for this state. I’m disgusted that we’re put in this position.”

Yesterday, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney, alongside the first Montanan to sign up for Medicaid expansion, called out Greg Gianforte for supporting Republican efforts to undermine the Affordable Care Act. Cooney said, “How on earth can you support ripping health care away from Montanans in the middle of a pandemic?”

As Montana’s sole Congressman, Gianforte voted to allow federal funding for the Republican lawsuit to overturn the ACA. Gianforte has also called Medicaid expansion “a disaster,” and pledged to dismantle the ACA “piece by piece.” In July, Gianforte tried to pull the wool over Montanans’ eyes and claimed he was in favor of Medicaid expansion, but admitted he still supports dismantling the ACA. Medicaid expansion can’t exist without the ACA, and telling Montanans otherwise is a lie.

Dismantling the ACA could throw 112,000 Montanans off their health care and rip away protections for pre-existing conditions for up to 152,000 Montanans.

As Lieutenant Governor, Cooney worked across the aisle to get Medicaid expansion reauthorized and expanded access to health care for 1-in-10 Montanans. If the ACA is overturned, Cooney has a plan as governor to work to institute legislative protections, including for those with pre-existing conditions.

Read more about how on earth Gianforte supports ripping health care away from Montanans during the pandemic below:

Missoulian: Cooney: Protect Affordable Care Act provisions

Montana must enact statewide provisions that mirror those of the Affordable Care Act, Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney said Wednesday, as he raised the “unconscionable” specter of a U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding the repeal of the ACA, or Obamacare.

“How on earth can you support ripping health care away from Montanans in the middle of a pandemic?” Cooney said during an appearance at Caras Park in Missoula.

But he said that’s exactly what U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte, who has voted to support repealing Obamacare, would do. Cooney, a Democrat, and Gianforte, a Republican, are vying to become Montana’s next governor, replacing Democrat Steve Bullock. Bullock is term-limited and running to unseat current U.S. Senator Steve Daines.

“If the Supreme Court gets rid of the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid expansion is gone,” Cooney warned.

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“We must be honest — getting rid of the Affordable Care Act will be terribly destructive for this state,” he said and added, “I’m disgusted that we’re put in this position.”

Missoula Current: Cooney, healthcare workers defend ACA as U.S. Supreme Court hearing looms

Citing attacks on the Affordable Care Act and a looming U.S Supreme Court decision, gubernatorial candidate Mike Cooney drew a sharp line Wednesday between his healthcare plans and that of his opponent, saying tens of thousands of Montanans depend upon the existing system for care.

While in Missoula, Cooney – the Democratic Party’s candidate for governor – said healthcare has emerged as the most important issue facing Montana families.

“Our rural clinics and critical access clinics depend upon the ACA to keep their doors open and continue serving the rural parts of our state,” Cooney said. “Repealing the ACA would sever a critical lifeline for those hospitals and care facilities. I don’t have to tell you what happens to a rural community when folks can no longer get the healthcare they need.”

The Republican candidate for governor Greg Gianforte has backed GOP efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and in June he voted against a program expansion.

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NBC Montana: Cooney addresses health care in Missoula

In Missoula Wednesday, gubernatorial candidate and current Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney addressed the press on the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid expansion.

Cooney stressed the importance of the Affordable Care Act to rural Montanans.

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