Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Bullock Joins Governors Asking Congress To Overhaul - Not Replace - Affordable Care Act

Gov. Steve Bullock signs the Medicaid expansion bill sponsored by Republican Sen. Ed Buttrey, left
Steve Jess
Gov. Steve Bullock signs the Medicaid expansion bill sponsored by Republican Sen. Ed Buttrey, left

Governor Steve Bullock has joined a bi-partisan group of six other governors asking Congress to overhaul the existing Affordable Care Act, rather than replacing it with one passed by the U.S. House. The governors sending the letter to U.S. House and Senate majority leaders include Republicans John Kasich of Ohio, Nevada’s Brian Sandoval and Charlie Baker of Massachusetts.

Bullock released this audio clip to the media along with the letter today.

"We can all agree, Republicans and Democrats, that health care is still too expensive," Bullock says. "It’s time for folks in Washington, D.C. to start working across the aisle to find meaningful solutions to actually increase the affordability and quality of healthcare across America."

Other Democratic governors who signed onto the letter criticizing the House bill as putting coverage for millions at risk were Colorado’s John Hickenlooper, John Bel Edwards of Louisiana, and Pennsylvania’s Tom Wolf.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said he's hoping to get legislation through the Senate before Congress' Fourth of July recess, though it's unclear that will happen because of divisions among GOP lawmakers.

Copyright 2020 Montana Public Radio. To see more, visit Montana Public Radio.

Eric Whitney is NPR's Mountain West/Great Plains Bureau Chief, and was the former news director for Montana Public Radio.