January 12, 2012
LEGISLATORS GATHER IN SUPPORT OF AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
Thompson, Genga Join Lawmakers In Hartford To Defend National Health Care Law
State Representatives John W. Thompson (D-Manchester), the assistant majority whip, and Henry Genga (D-East Hartford), vice chairman of the Appropriations Committee, joined other legislators Thursday at press conference at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford in support of a U.S. Supreme Court filing defending the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. The case will be heard by the high court in March.
“We need to stand strong behind the Affordable Care Act,” Thompson said. “The act has already provided benefits to children with pre-existing conditions, who can no longer be denied health insurance. Also because of the act, individuals no longer can be dropped from coverage when they get sick. People from Connecticut and across the country have been helped.”
“In these difficult economic times, affordable health care for everyone has become more important than ever,” Genga said. “Because of the federal act, more residents will save money on their health care when the law is fully implemented in 2014.”
In conjunction with the Working Group of State Legislators for Health Reform, hundreds of lawmakers from across the nation joined forces to announce and demonstrate their support of the amicus brief. The legislators’ brief argues that the Constitution gives broad power to the federal government to act in cases where a national solution is necessary. The Affordable Care Act capitalizes on state innovations by setting a minimum coverage floor and giving states considerable policy flexibility.
“I am proud that our state is moving forward to implement the Affordable Care Act. It is making a difference in the lives of our constituents already: thousands have benefitted from the protections against insurance company abuses, lower out of pocket costs for seniors and tax credits for small employers,” Speaker of the House Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) said. “Health care is a national problem that no state has been able to solve alone – it requires a federal partner and a national solution. Our implementation efforts should not be derailed by baseless constitutional challenges.”
“We cannot afford to lose the progress already made by giving in to political pressures that in the end will only hurt working families, small businesses and seniors. We will continue to push forward in implementing the Act so that our families can get the care they need,” said Rep. Betsy Ritter (D-Waterford/Montville), House chair of the legislature’s Public Health Committee.
The show of support for the Affordable Care Act in Connecticut was part of a larger demonstration of support for the law across the nation this week, as over 500 state legislators representing all 50 states signed on to the Amicus Brief defending the law. The brief will be filed this Friday and was prepared in conjunction with the Working Group of State Legislators for Health Reform (a national group of state legislators working to advance health reform and implement the Affordable Care Act), Progressive States Network, and the Constitutional Accountability Center.
Rep. Geoff Luxenberg (D-Manchester) did not attend the press conference but signed the amicus brief.
The full text of the amicus brief will be available at: www.progressivestates.org/ACAamicus