Last night multiple news outlets reported that President Trump plans to nominate Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the United States Supreme Court. Judge Barrett has publicly stated her opposition to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and disagreed with Chief Justice Roberts’ ruling in the 2012 case upholding the landmark law. On November 10th, the court will hear arguments in California v. Texas, the case being promoted by the President and Republican Attorneys General to overturn the ACA. According to the Economic Policy Institute, if the ACA is repealed, 230,000 Iowans would lose health insurance, and more than 6,000 Iowans would lose their job.
In response to Barrett’s upcoming nomination to the Supreme Court and this renewed threat to health care, Progress Iowa executive Director Matt Sinovic issued the following statement:
“Senators Ernst and Grassley should be put on notice that a vote to confirm Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court is a vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act. It would be a vote to rip health coverage away from hundreds of thousands of Iowans, including more than eight thousand Iowa veterans. And it would be a vote to allow insurance companies to discriminate against 1.3 million Iowans with pre-existing conditions.”
“Our lives are on the line with this Supreme Court nomination, and we would be directly under threat with Barrett as a justice. In addition to repealing our health care, the next justice will likely be ruling on whether or not to keep abortion legal, whether we maintain our right to vote, uphold human rights and workers’ rights in our country, and so much more. Giving President Trump this appointment could end our rights for an entire generation.”
“There is too much at stake to rush this process and confirm a nominee who will threaten the lives of millions of Americans. President Trump and the Senate should honor Justice Ginsburg’s dying wish, and let the people decide who will make the next nomination to the Supreme Court. If our Senators choose to vote in favor, they are voting in favor of repealed health care, discarded rights, and threatened lives. And we will work every day to make sure Iowans are reminded of their record.”
Background:
Economic Policy Institute: How would repealing the Affordable Care Act affect health care and jobs in your state?Iowa: 230,000 would lose health insurance, 6,753 would lose their jobUnited States: 29.8 million would lose health insurance, 1.2 million would lose their job
Notre Dame Law Journal: Countering the Majoritarian DifficultyAccording to Barrett, “Roberts pushed the Affordable Care Act beyond its plausible meaning to save the statute.”
