Dem-NPL chair’s statement on banning transgender Americans from military service

(BISMARCK, ND) – Responding to the president’s decision to ban transgender Americans from U.S. military service, Democratic-NPL chairwoman Kylie Oversen issued the following statement:

“Those who serve in our military represent the very best our country has to offer. They put their lives on the line to protect the freedoms we hold dear, and they should be honored for their sacrifices, not shamed for who they are. As former defense secretary Carter said today, if an individual is willing, capable and qualified to serve, that should be the only measure on which they are evaluated. The military is a place to honor service and sacrifice, not litigate social policy.”

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Dem-NPL response to Sen. Hoeven’s vote to proceed on repealing health care for tens of thousands of NDans

(BISMARCK, ND) – Responding to Senator Hoeven’s vote in favor of a procedural motion to advance the health care repeal bill Congressman Cramer helped pass in May, Democratic-NPL chairperson Kylie Oversen issued the following statement:

“Today, Senator Hoeven voted to move forward with the same bill Congressman Cramer helped author and pass in May – a bill that would kick tens of thousands of North Dakotans off their health insurance, increase insurance premiums by 20 percent or more, and force rural hospitals in communities like ours to scale back their services or possibly shutter their doors. With his vote to proceed, Sen. Hoeven showed that he shares Rep. Cramer’s disregard for the voices of thousands of North Dakotans in every corner of our state who have spoken out to protect health care for our families.  

“As we’ve said from the beginning, our federal representatives must show real leadership and a commitment to doing the hard work of governing and fighting for the people of North Dakota – which includes working across the aisle. This has been Sen. Heitkamp’s priority since Day One. We strongly call on Sen. Hoeven to join Sen. Heitkamp at the negotiating table, setting aside irresponsible efforts to dismantle Medicaid, keeping in place protections for patients with preexisting conditions, and working in a bipartisan fashion to improve our health care system.”

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Before tomorrow’s vote, a reminder that medical organizations overwhelmingly oppose Republican repeal bills

(BISMARCK, ND) – With the Senate tentatively scheduled to vote on some form of health care repeal tomorrow (what form of repeal remains a mystery), a new ad by the American Cancer Society highlights that virtually every national medical organization opposes the Republican effort to repeal health care for tens of thousands of North Dakotans and 22 million Americans.

National medical organizations opposing the Republican repeal bills include:

-AARP

-ALS Association

-American Academy of Family Physicians

-American Cancer Society

-American College of Physicians

-American College of Nurse-Midwives

-American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

-American Diabetes Association

-American Health Care Association

-American Heart Association

-American Hospital Association

-American Lung Association

-American Medical Association

-American Muslim Health Professionals

-American Nurses Association

-American Public Health Association

-America’s Essential Hospitals

-American Federation for Suicide Prevention

-America’s Hospitals and Health Systems

-Arthritis Foundation

-Catholic Health Association of the United States

-Catholic Sisters for Health Care

-Children’s Defense Fund

-Church and Society

-Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

-Faith in Public Life

-Friends Committee on National Legislation

-HIV Medicine Association

-Kingdom Mission Society

-Lutheran Services in America

-March of Dimes

-Muscular Dystrophy Association

-National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease

-National Disability Rights Network

-National Health Council

-National Multiple Sclerosis Society

-National Organization for Rare Disorders

-National Physicians Alliance

-Sisters of the Good Shepard

-Trust for America’s Health

-Union for Reform Judaism    

Statewide medical organizations opposing the Republican repeal bills include:

-North Dakota Medical Association

-North Dakota Hospital Association

-AARP North Dakota

-Jamestown Regional Medical Center

“Before Senator Hoeven votes tomorrow on a bill that will kick tens of thousands of North Dakotans off their health insurance, he should ask: Who is supporting this proposal?” said Democratic-NPL spokesperson Daniel Tick. “Organizations representing doctors, hospitals, patients, long-term care providers and rural health centers have all spoken out against health care repeal. Senator Hoeven should do the right thing for North Dakota by sitting down at the negotiating table and seeking real, bipartisan solutions that improve access to care and lower costs, rather than dismantling Medicaid and throwing the insurance market into chaos.”

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Cramer, Hoeven both support plan to ‘repeal and do nothing’

CBO says ‘repeal and do nothing’ would result in 32m uninsured Americans; up 10m from ‘repeal and replace’

(BISMARCK, ND) – It’s official. North Dakota’s Rep. Kevin Cramer and Sen. John Hoeven both publicly stated their support for the staggeringly irresponsible plan to “repeal and do nothing” on health care.  

Speaking on KNOX 1310 AM this morning, Rep. Cramer said: “The simplicity of a straight repeal is really the better way to go.”

On KVLY-TV last night, Sen. Hoeven was asked: “The vote that’s coming up next week, are you a Yes for that vote?” Hoeven responded: “I’m a Yes on that. As a matter of fact, we voted on that two years ago.”

In a report yesterday, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the Republican “repeal and do nothing” bill would take health coverage away from 32 million Americans, an increase of 10 million uninsured Americans over the “repeal and replace” bill. In North Dakota, tens of thousands of individuals could lose coverage, either because they would no longer have access to Medicaid or because their insurance premiums would double over the next decade.

Senator Hoeven previously said he would have voted against the Senate’s “repeal and replace” bill, but only after it became obvious that the bill lacked the votes needed to pass.

“It doesn’t matter which version of repeal we’re talking about – every proposal would effectively end Medicaid expansion, rip health coverage away from tens of thousands of North Dakotans, and price even more families out of the insurance market,” said Democratic-NPL spokesperson Daniel Tick. “As every major medical organization has said, these proposals aren’t just bad policy; they’re downright harmful. Now, more than ever, Rep. Cramer and Sen. Hoeven need to hear from the thousands of North Dakotans who are raising their voices in support of protecting our health care. They’ll only listen if we keep calling.”

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Dem-NPL statement on attempts to “resurrect” Republican health care repeal

“Don’t Stop Calling.” 

(BISMARCK, ND) – Responding to reports that Republican Senators are facing pressure from party leaders to resurrect their efforts to rip health care away from tens of thousands of North Dakotans, Democratic-NPL party chairwoman Kylie Oversen issued the following statement: 

“Don’t stop calling. Don’t let up the pressure. Now is not the time to quiet our voices.   

“Thousands of North Dakotans and millions of Americans have already made their voices heard. They’ve demanded our elected officials work together across the aisle to protect our health care.

“But a small group of Senate and House Republicans are doing everything they can to ignore these calls and revive their efforts to dismantle Medicaid and take health coverage away from millions. This is staggeringly irresponsible. Call Senator Hoeven and tell him to vote NO on any plan that takes away our care. Call Congressman Cramer and tell him that his vote to dismantle Medicaid and put health insurance out of reach for thousands of North Dakotan families was wrong. Our voices will be heard, but only if we keep calling.”

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Kevin Cramer, House Republicans offer budget slashing Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP and Social Security

(BISMARCK, ND) – With Republican efforts to rip health coverage away from tens of thousands of North Dakotans in shambles, Congressman Kevin Cramer and House Republicans wasted no time introducing new ways to slash programs like Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP and Social Security.

The House Republican budget released on Tuesday would drastically reduce funding for a wide range of programs vital to families throughout North Dakota, while busting the federal budget and assuming fanciful projections to make its math work.

“The backwards priorities in the House GOP budget really make us wonder who Kevin Cramer is looking out for in Washington – North Dakotans, or himself?” said Democratic-NPL chairperson Kylie Oversen. “The cuts included in this budget to programs that are so important to North Dakota would be absurd if they weren’t so cruel.”

Cuts Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP and Social Security

  • Fresh off their failed (for now) effort to dismantle Medicaid, the House Republican budget would slash $200 billion from programs like Medicaid and Social Security.
  • The budget would also prohibit disabled Americans receiving Social Security benefits from collecting unemployment benefits.
  • In keeping with their efforts to dismantle Medicaid, the House Republican budget slashes over $1.5 trillion over the next ten years from Medicaid, which provides access to health care for 90,000 North Dakotans including 36,000 children.
  • The budget would cut nearly $500 billion from Medicare – breaking one of President Trump’s key campaign promises – and turn Medicare into a voucher program that would leave many seniors behind.
  • The budget would impose “enormous cuts” to programs like SNAP on which working-class and low-income Americans rely for food assistance, and which plays a crucial role supporting North Dakota’s farming economy.

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In their own words: Republicans say “repeal w/o replace” is “nonstarter”

Sen. Hoeven’s voice is (unsurprisingly) absent

(BISMARCK, ND) – On the heels of a second failure to pass their so-called ‘health care’ bill, some Senate Republicans are floating the idea of repealing health care protections for tens of thousands of North Dakotans and millions of Americans without passing any replacement at all.

To do so, in the words of many Republicans (but not Sen. Hoeven), would be staggeringly irresponsible. 

According to Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), repealing health care protections in current law without a replacement is a “nonstarter.” “I tell you it will be uncertainty in the insurance markets, premiums will rise for milled-class families, it gives all the power to people who actually don’t believe in president Trump’s campaign pledges,” Cassidy said just days ago.

According to Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.VA): “I did not come to Washington to hurt people […] I have serious concerns about how we continue to provide affordable care to those who have benefited from West Virginia’s decision to expand Medicaid, especially in light of the growing opioid crisis. All of the Senate health care discussion drafts have failed to address these concerns adequately […] I cannot vote to repeal Obamacare without a replacement plan that addresses my concerns and the needs of West Virginians.” 

According to Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME): “I will vote no on the motion to proceed to repeal the Affordable Care Act without a replacement. I voted against this same proposal in 2015 […] We can’t just hope that we will pass a replacement within the next two years. Repealing without a replacement would create great uncertainty for individuals who rely on the ACA and cause further turmoil in the insurance markets.”

According to our own Sen. Hoeven? ….

Democratic-NPL executive director Robert Haider said:

“With Senate Republicans’ failure for the second time to pass legislation that would rip health coverage away from tens of thousands of North Dakotans, Senator Hoeven has a choice and an opportunity to come to the table and work to achieve real, bipartisan solutions that protect health care for all North Dakotans and all Americans. Or, he can continue to hide from this process, as members of his own party in Washington, DC, work to pass staggeringly irresponsible measures that put health care out of reach for working families.”   

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Dem-NPL statement on Senate Republican bill failing for the second time

(BISMARCK, ND) – In response to news that Senate Republicans have, for a second time, fallen short of the votes necessary to move their ‘health care’ bill forward, Democratic-NPL executive director Robert Haider issued the following statement:

“Senator John Hoeven now has a choice. He has the opportunity to come to the table and actually work with Democrats in a real bipartisan way to protect and improve health care for all North Dakotans. Or, he can continue hiding from the process, hoping the discussion on health care will go away. The next step is up to him.”  

Dem-NPL statement on revised Senate health care bill

Sen. Hoeven criticizes severe cuts to Medicaid in private meetings; but will he stand for North Dakotans?

(BISMARCK, ND) – Democratic-NPL executive director Robert Haider issued the following statement in response to the revised Senate Republican “health care” bill revealed today:

“Senate Republicans are scrambling to salvage their deeply unpopular health care bill. Unfortunately, rather than returning to the drawing board and seeking truly bipartisan solutions that protect North Dakotans, they’ve chosen to maintain their goals of dismantling Medicaid, gutting protections for patients, and making people pay much more for worse coverage. Even under their revised plan, tens of thousands of North Dakotans and millions of Americans will lose their health coverage, and that is simply unacceptable. 

“Senator Hoeven has reportedly criticized this approach behind closed doors. But when push comes to shove, will he protect North Dakotans by voting against this terrible legislation, or will he fall in line with his party’s leaders and vote to rip health coverage away from thousands of North Dakotan families?

“North Dakotans who are deeply worried about the impacts this legislation can’t afford to wait and see as Hoeven ‘reserves judgment.’ They deserve to know where Hoeven stands.”        

In a private meeting with Republican colleagues, Sen. Hoeven reportedly criticized the bill’s provisions that would eliminate Medicaid expansion and dismantle traditional Medicaid. Over 90,000 North Dakotans receive health care though Medicaid, including 36,000 North Dakota children.   

The revised Senate bill maintains Republicans’ goal of dismantling Medicaid, allows health insurers to offer even skimpier coverage, and offers a meager increase in funding to fight opioid addiction, which according to medical professionals falls far short of what’s needed to address the crisis.   

Senate Republicans’ approach to fighting opioid crisis like ‘spitting in the ocean’

Opioid funding for states like ND comes up far short in revised Republican ‘heath care’ bill

(BISMARCK, ND) – Senate Republicans are scrambling to make sweetheart deals and concessions that garner enough support to pass their widely panned, deeply unpopular ‘health care’ bill.

One such concession: Add $4.5 billion per year for 10 years for states like North Dakota that have been impacted by the opioid crisis. But medical professionals, addiction specialists, and even Republican governors say this funding is much-too-little to compensate for the dismantling of Medicaid that would occur if the Republican plan is enacted into law.

According to the New York Times:

“The new money would most likely flow to states in the form of grants over 10 years, averaging out to $4.5 billion per year. With hundreds of people dying every week from overdoses of heroin, fentanyl and opioid painkillers, some specialists say a fixed amount of grant money is simply inadequate compared with the open-ended funding stream that Medicaid provides to treat all who qualify for the coverage.”

According to Politico:

“Addiction experts and others across the political spectrum say that boosting the current bill’s $2 billion for substance abuse services is like applying a Band-Aid to a gunshot wound. Throwing a pile of cash at addiction won’t make it go away, say critics. It’s a complex, lifelong, medical problem that requires regular health care.”

According to Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich:

“That’s like spitting in the ocean.”

Under current law, addiction services are designated “essential benefits,” and therefore must be covered under plans sold on private-market exchanges. Additionally, Medicaid expansion has greatly increased access to addiction treatment for previously underserved populations.     

Both the Senate and House versions of the Republican proposals would effectively end Medicaid expansion and cap Medicaid funding, ripping health coverage away from tens of thousands of North Dakotans and millions of Americans. Additionally, the Republican health care proposals allow states to waive essential health benefits, including addiction services and mental health care for those suffering from addiction.

“As Republicans work to pass a bill that dismantles Medicaid – a program providing treatment for many North Dakotans battling addiction – this concession is an inadequate drop in the bucket,” said Democratic-NPL executive director Robert Haider. “It is a meager attempt to garner ‘Yes’ votes from wavering Senators like John Hoeven who desperately need a reason to justify supporting such a terrible bill. If the goal is truly to improve health care for North Dakotans, the Senate must go back to the drawing board and seek real, bipartisan solutions that build on what works and fix what doesn’t. The Senate and House versions of this bill are simply too flawed to be fixed with a few Band-Aids.”

Dem-NPL statement on Sen. Hoeven opposing Republican health care bill

(BISMARCK, ND) – Responding to a CNN report that Sen. John Hoeven has come out against the Senate Republican health care bill, Democratic-NPL executive director Robert Haider released the following statement:  

“Courage means standing up in the face of difficulty with moral strength. We’re glad Sen. Hoeven finally came out against the Republican health care bill – but doing so well after it became clear the bill as it stands won’t get a vote is the opposite of courage.

“Of course, this is much better than Kevin Cramer who continues to defend the bill despite overwhelming opposition from voters and medical professionals alike. He should listen to North Dakotans from every corner of the state who are seriously concerned about how this bill would impact them and join the rest of our federal delegation in opposing the bill. Hopefully they join Sen. Heitkamp in looking for ways to improve the health care system in a bipartisan way. That’s what North Dakotans deserve.”

Statement on new CBO estimate that GOP health bill cuts Medicaid by 35% over 20 yrs

(BISMARCK, ND) – In response to a new CBO estimate showing the Senate health care bill would cut Medicaid by 35 percent over the next two decades, Democratic-NPL executive director Robert Haider issued the following statement:

“Just last month, Senator Hoeven said, ‘any reforms made to the Medicaid program should work for states, providers and those who rely on the program.’ He must not have been in the back room where they drafted the Republican health care bill in secret, because this legislation would slash Medicaid by nearly $800 billion in the first decade, and by 35 percent in the next 20 years. That means millions of Americans and thousands of North Dakotans will lose their health care, rural hospitals will be forced to close, and states will be increasingly burdened with steep additional costs. Senator Hoeven, will you protect North Dakotans who rely on Medicaid for their health care by voting NO on this cruel bill or any bill that slashes Medicaid?”  

Earlier in the week, the CBO released its official “score” of the Senate Republican health care bill, showing that 22 million Americans would lose health coverage, including 15 million who would lose Medicaid coverage. Additionally, out-of-pocket costs for low-income Americans, working families and the elderly would skyrocket.

Rural hospitals in states like North Dakota rely heavily on Medicaid to keep their doors open and over 90,000 North Dakotans, including 36,000 North Dakotan children, have access to health care through Medicaid.

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