Levin, Miller Weigh in on Obamacare Repeal Vote

Sharing their opposing views to The Patients' Rights Repeal Act, Sander Levin and Candice Miller argued their opinions on the controversial debate through public statements this week.

Levin and Miller each represent Metro Detroit communities, including several that span throughout Macomb County.

The House majority voted Thursday to repeal Obamacare—formally known as the Affordable Care Act. Many expect it will not pass in the Democratic-controlled Senate. 

Levin: Repeal vote is 'embarassing spectacle'

Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Sander Levin, a Democrat, made the following statement on the House floor in opposition to the 37^th ObamaCare repeal vote, his office announced Thursday:

"I rise today in opposition to The Patients’ Rights Repeal Act. This vote is more than just a sideshow. It is an embarrassing spectacle that has consumed House Republicans for more than two years, to the detriment of our economy and millions of Americans looking for work. Republicans on this have their legislative head in the sand and their feet in cement. The Republicans are blind to the benefits that so many are already experiencing through the Affordable Care Act. It is already helping millions of Americans – with many millions more set to gain insurance coverage through the marketplaces next year.

"With their feet in cement, 37 times House Republicans will have voted to repeal all or part of Obamacare. More than 50 million taxpayer dollars has been spent by House Republicans – through the dozens of hours Republicans have devoted to floor votes – to try to repeal ObamaCare, which even Speaker Boehner acknowledged last year is the law of the land.

"Since the beginning of 2011, Republicans have spent no less than 15% of their time on the House floor trying to repeal ObamaCare when they know it would not happen. Yet not once this year have Republicans turned their focus toward job creation. What we have here – repeal – is a Republican obsession," according to Levin's office.

Miller: Obamacare has 'myriad of fatal flaws'

U.S. Representative Candice Miller, a Republican, stated Thursday in a news release:

“There is nothing more personal to each and every American than their health care and their relationship with their doctor.  And no issue is more important to each and every American than having a growing economy and job security.  Today the House acted for the 37th time to repeal Obamacare because it puts at risk the doctor-patient relationship and it will destroy jobs and put countless others at risk. 

“To make matters even worse, last Friday the IRS admitted that it unfairly and improperly targeted conservative groups for extra scrutiny by using purely political motives for conducting their duties to enforce the tax code.  So now because of Obamacare every American will not only have to submit all private information about their income and earnings to the IRS, they now will also now have to supply their most private health information to a government agency that currently does not have the trust of the American people.

“Obamacare has a myriad of fatal flaws that call for one action – the full repeal.  The House has once again acted to get this job done and now if the Senate will join us we can get to work on a replacement to Obamacare that has patient-centered reforms focused on protecting the doctor-patient relationship instead of putting it at risk, reducing costs instead of raising them, expanding access to care for all Americans instead of putting current care at risk, and finally creating jobs instead of destroying jobs," she stated in a news release.

Tell us in the comments' section below what you think about this topic. Please keep comments respectful and free of offensive language.