Sen. Hoeven on public hearings for health care bill: ‘I don’t anticipate that.’

Hoeven refuses to call for public hearings on bill to strip coverage from tens of thousands of North Dakotans

 

(BISMARCK, ND) – Another day, and Senator John Hoeven still refuses to call for public hearings on a bill The Fargo Forum reports would strip health coverage away from 30,100 North Dakotans. The legislation being drafted behind closed doors by Senate Republicans is anticipated to come up for a vote as soon as next week, without any public hearings or consideration of bipartisan amendments.       

According to The Forum: “The Senate bill is being drafted in secret, without public hearings or the opportunity to offer amendments. Senators reportedly will have 10 hours to review the bill before voting on it.”

Appearing recently on KVLY-TV, Sen. Hoeven was asked bluntly: “Will there be hearings on this bill?” His response: “I don’t anticipate that.”  

In response, Democratic-NPL executive director Robert Haider released the following statement:

“Here in North Dakota, we believe in an open process where laws are passed in full view of the public. Refusing to hold public hearings on a bill that threatens to rip health coverage away from tens of thousands of North Dakotans, while increasing out-of-pocket costs for hundreds of thousands more, simply isn’t the North Dakota way. We deserve better from our elected leaders. Sen. Hoeven, will you stand up for North Dakotans and demand they get to see what’s in the bill? Will you vote against this bill if it threatens to rip health coverage away from North Dakotan families as the House version would do?”