August 23, 2018

McConnell Plays Partisan Politics Denying Vote On Manchin Amendment To Protect West Virginians With Pre-Existing Conditions

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin released the following statement on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) refusal to allow the U.S. Senate to vote on Senator Manchin’s amendment that would support authorizing Senate Legal Counsel to intervene in Texas vs. United States – a pending lawsuit in federal court – on behalf of the U.S. Senate, in order to defend the protections for people with pre-existing conditions. Right now, 20 U.S. Attorneys General, including the Attorney General of West Virginia, are suing to allow insurance companies to once again deny coverage to West Virginians with pre-existing conditions.

“What’s happening today in the Senate is disgusting. Once again, Mitch McConnell is letting politics determine the work of the Senate by refusing to allow the Senate to vote on my common sense amendment to protect healthcare access for those with pre-existing conditions. We had a bipartisan agreement to vote but yet again Mitch McConnell chose to play politics with the healthcare of millions of Americans, 1.8 million of them in his home state of Kentucky. This cruel lawsuit would put nearly 800,000 West Virginians at risk of financial ruin if they’ve been identified to have a pre-existing condition. I refuse to sit idly by while West Virginia’s own Attorney General tries to allow insurance companies to play God by deciding who they will and will not insure. I urge Senator McConnell to allow the Senate to vote on this important amendment. Nearly 800,000 West Virginians and 1.8 million Kentuckians’ lives depend on it. This is not a Democratic or Republican issue, this is life or death to many.”

To watch a video of Senator Manchin’s remarks on the Senate Floor, click here.

 

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