Where Does Gov. Hogan Stand on Trumpcare?
While other GOP governors have spoken out, Hogan stays silent on plan that would gut Medicaid and kick Marylanders off health insurance
With today’s vote on the D.C Republican health care bill, Governor Larry Hogan has still not said whether he supports the bill. The law is projected to kick 24 million Americans off their insurance, cut $880 billion in Medicaid funding, raise premiums for older Americans and threaten protections for those with pre-existing conditions.
In Maryland alone, an estimated 313,300 will lose coverage.
If passed, governors will be left to deal with the gap in Medicaid funding, and will have the option to waive protections for pre-existing conditions. Starting in 2019, governors will have the option to see waivers that allow insurance companies to dramatically raise premiums on people with pre-existing conditions.
“With millions of people at risk of losing coverage, it’s time for Larry Hogan to tell Maryland voters where he stands,” said DGA Communications Director Jared Leopold. “Democratic and Republican governors have spoken up against this bill, but Larry Hogan remains silent. The Congressional health care bill would kick thousands of Marylanders off of their health insurance, raise premiums, and cripple the state’s budget. As governor, Larry Hogan should stand up to Trump and say this bill is a disaster for Maryland families.”
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Background:
March 2017: As Democrats Pressed Hogan on ACA Replacement, His Spokeswoman Refused to Provide a Position Saying Democrats were “Wasting Time Playing Politics.” According to the Baltimore Sun, “Four Democrats in Maryland’s congressional delegation rallied in Annapolis on Monday to press Gov. Larry Hogan to oppose the Republican health care plan headed toward a vote this week in Congress. Democrats have been trying for months to get Hogan, a Republican, to speak out against the repeal of Obamacare, noting estimates that show hundreds of thousands of Maryland residents could lose coverage and that the state budget would take a $1.4 billion hit under Medicaid cuts proposed in the current plan. […] A Hogan spokeswoman said that the lawmakers were ‘wasting time playing politics.’ ‘This type of grandstanding is exactly why Marylanders and Americans are sick of politicians and why Congress has an approval rating in the single digits,’ said the spokeswoman, Amelia Chasse. ‘Moreover, these members are disregarding the governor’s direct appeal to them to work in a bipartisan manner to come up with responsible solutions for Maryland.’” [Baltimore Sun, 3/20/17]
Republican Gov. Charlie Baker Said the House GOP Plan Would Result in “A Massive Loss of Critical Funds” for Massachusetts. According to the Berkshire Eagle, “The health care bill that congressional Republicans plan to bring to the House floor for a vote Thursday afternoon would result in “a massive loss of critical funds” for Massachusetts, Gov. Charlie Baker said. […] ‘Our administration will continue to protect Massachusetts’ health care system, which leads the nation in health care coverage, and while the AHCA bill has been amended, it would still result in a massive loss of critical funds for the Commonwealth,’ Baker said in a statement.” [Berkshire Eagle, 5/4/17]
Republican Gov. John Kasich Opposed the House Republican Repeal of Obamacare: “I’m Not for it.” According to the Washington Examiner, “Ohio Gov. John Kasich said Friday that he’s opposed to the House Republican plan to repeal and replace Obamacare, and said the GOP should be working with Democrats as they work to change federal healthcare policy. Kasich, the Republican governor who expanded the Medicaid program under Obamacare, said Republicans were ‘jamming something through that’s going to take health coverage away from millions of people.’ ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if they pass something, but I’m not for it,’ he said at a Christian Science Monitor breakfast in Washington.” [Washington Examiner, 4/28/17]