Democrats Respond to Noem’s Ways and Means Committee Voting to Make Healthcare Unaffordable for Thousands of South Dakotans
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The South Dakota Democratic Party released the following statement responding to Rep. Kristi Noem and other Republicans on the Ways and Means Committeetaking the first step in passing their plan to increase costs and reduce the coverage of health insurance for thousands of South Dakotans, while giving tax breaks to the insurance company CEOs and other wealthy people:
“After waiting for six years to introduce an alternative healthcare plan to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Kristi Noem and her Republican colleagues on the Ways and Means Committee voted to rush their half-baked plan through committee at 3:30 a.m. CST, less than two days after the plan was made public – and with almost no public input. With no CBO score, and many important details unknown, Kristi Noem and Washington Republicans owe the people of South Dakota honest answers to the following questions about this plan and what it would mean for South Dakotans before the process moves any further:
- How much will this plan cost taxpayers?
- How many South Dakotans will lose their healthcare?
- How many South Dakotans will go bankrupt from medical bills?
- How will South Dakotans with healthcare through their employers be impacted?
- How much will premiums and out-of-pocket expenses go up for South Dakota families?
- How much more will South Dakota seniors pay for their health care?
“Rep. Noem’s rushing a bill through committee in the dead of night to hide from public scrutiny is not leadership. Neither is dodging constituents by refusing to hold public events in our state. Her profound lack of leadership should not be rewarded with the keys to the governor’s mansion.”
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