FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 18, 2019
Contact: Kenza Hadj-Moussa, 612-386-9556
NEWS STATEMENT
TakeAction Minnesota Statement on 5th Circuit Court Affordable Care Act Decision
While Republicans threaten our care, the Legislature must codify ACA standards in state law next session
St. Paul—Today, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals announced their decision to uphold the position of Republicans in Texas vs. United States, finding the individual mandate in the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional, and sending other provisions back to a District Court judge who already ruled the entire law unconstitutional.
The entire Affordable Care Act will be on the chopping block in 2020, threatening health care for 17 million people enrolled in Medicaid.
TakeAction Minnesota released the following statement:
“We believe that no matter where we live, what we look like, or how much money we make, everyone deserves care, no exception. We strongly condemn the decision of the 5th Circuit Court to repeal the Affordable Care, siding with corporate-backed Republicans that have vowed to repeal the health care law since it passed.
We know that the consequences of this court decision will be devastating, and Republicans have no plan to fund Medicaid-expansion or MinnesotaCare. This is is their playbook: the GOP will kick millions of people off health care to finance tax breaks for billionaires and corporations.
We will not go backward.
The Minnesota Legislature must codify Affordable Care Act standards in state law immediately next session to stop HMOs from denying people coverage, prevent the GOP from kicking young people off of their parent’s health insurance, and more.
For people across the country, this is a matter of life and death. Republicans and their wealthy donors own this court decision. We will keep fighting for a health care system that leaves nobody behind—and for a government that’s for the people.”
###
TakeAction Minnesota is a statewide, independent, multiracial people’s organization working to advance democracy and equity through organizing, political action, and campaigns. The organization has offices in St. Paul, Duluth, and St. Cloud.