The National Farmers Union released a statement Friday announcing “relief” by the failed Senate vote on a so-called skinny repeal of parts of the Affordable Care Act. NFU says the bill would have risked access to health care for 16 million people and marketplace stability. Farmers Union President Roger Johnson says rural residents, including farmers and ranchers, need and desire a solution to rising premiums and an unstable marketplace. However, of the skinny repeal, he says the bill would have made matters worse for rural residents. Johnson says the organization now looks forward to working towards a bipartisan solution that improves access to affordable, high-quality health care for family farmers, ranchers, and rural Americans.
From the National Association of Farm Broadcasting News Service.
NFU Relieved by Senate Health Care Vote, Hopeful for Bipartisan Reform
The U.S. Senate voted down a “skinny repeal” of parts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) last night, avoiding the passage of a bill that would have risked access to health care for 16 million people and marketplace stability.
In response to the vote, National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson issued the following statement:
“While family farmers, ranchers and rural residents need and desire a solution to rising premiums and an unstable marketplace, the “skinny repeal” bill released late last night would have made matters worse. The entire process to this point has been secretive, undemocratic and shameful from the start. We’re relieved to see such deeply flawed legislation rejected by the Senate and hopeful that Congress will return to regular order to pass impactful health care reform.
“NFU looks forward to working towards a bipartisan solution that improves access to affordable, high quality health care for family farmers, ranchers and rural Americans.”