Baldwin criticizes Vukmir over GOP-led lawsuit on Obamacare
Pre-existing conditions at center of argument
Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin on Wednesday criticized her rival Leah Vukmir over a Republican-led lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act.
Baldwin made her comments to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel as oral arguments in the case were heard in U.S. District Court in Texas.
The suit was brought by a 20-state GOP coalition spearheaded by Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The states asked a judge to overturn the Affordable Care Act and issue a nationwide injunction while the case proceeds.
The federal Justice Department declined to defend ACA, prompting Democratic attorneys general from some states to do so.
In addition, Baldwin said the Republicans are seeking “from the court a ruling that insurance companies do not have to cover people with pre-existing health conditions.”
“This became even more serious when the U.S. government decided they weren’t going to defend that provision of the Affordable Care Act,” she said. “My opponent says she supports that case, including getting rid of the guarantee for people with pre-existing health conditions.”
Vukmir’s campaign declined to say whether she backs the suit and referred to a statement issued Friday in which she declared, “Make no mistake about it: patients with pre-existing conditions should be covered.”
Vukmir said before the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, Wisconsin offered coverage to those with pre-existing conditions through a highrisk pool model.
Vukmir has campaigned on repealing and replacing Obamacare.
Asked if the issue of health care was becoming more important in the race, Baldwin pointed to efforts by Republicans to get rid of Obamacare, including a failed attempt to repeal the law last year in the U.S. Senate.
“The short answer is ... Wisconsinites are much more alarmed about this and engaged and I’m leading the fight,” she said.
In the past week, Democrats have sought to ramp up the focus on health care, especially in the wake of Vice President Mike Pence’s visit to Milwaukee.
Appearing alongside Vukmir, Pence said Republicans made an effort to “fully repeal and replace Obamacare and we’ll continue with Leah Vukmir in the Senate, we’ll continue to go back to that.”
Baldwin said “one of the first things reported that he said on the tarmac when he landed was, we’re going to try again if Leah Vukmir gets elected. We’re going to try to repeal the Affordable Care Act again. A battle people thought had already been fought. So it’s very concerning.”