AFP Goes On-Air in Montana Holding Senator Jon Tester Accountable for Skyrocketing Health Care Costs

ARLINGTON, Virginia, April 19 -- Americans for Prosperity issued the following news release:

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) on Thursday will launch a television and digital ad campaign in Montana informing citizens about Senator Jon Tester's (MT) record of voting against providing Montanans relief from skyrocketing health care costs caused by Obamacare and urging him to support policies that expand health care choice. Despite admitting repeatedly that Obamacare isn't working, he voted again and again against providing relief.

VIEW THE AD HERE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YwtcnzIW9A&feature=youtu.be)

The grassroots group is investing approximately $560,000 in TV and digital ads asking Montanans to urge Senator Tester to support S. 2507, the Improving Choices in Health Care Coverage Act. Sponsored by Sen. Barasso, this bill would expand health care choice and provide lower cost health insurance options by making short-term, limited-duration health insurance plans renewable.

This Montana effort comes on the heels of Congress passing the most significant tax reform in a generation, which included an end to Obamacare's individual mandate. The individual mandate forces Americans to either purchase health insurance or pay a penalty, essentially punishing consumers for not purchasing a product they may not want or can't afford. In 2017, Senator Tester voted against the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and repealing the individual mandate, choosing once again, to force Montanans to pay the price.

"Again and again Tester promised us relief from rising healthcare costs," said AFP-MT State Director David Herbst, "Instead, we've had years of empty rhetoric and healthcare costs that continue to rise. It's time for Tester to choose people over politics and work to expand healthcare choice for the people of Montana."

The television ad will begin running on-air Thursday, April 19 and will continue throughout the coming weeks.

AFP President Tim Phillips issued the following statement:

"Senator Tester has time and again failed to deliver the changes to Obamacare that he claimed to support, choosing partisan politics over the opportunity to give Montanans more choice over their health care decisions.

"For too long, Montana families have listened to Senator Tester promise relief from skyrocketing health care costs. But what they've gotten instead is a lot of empty rhetoric and costs that continue to rise.

"Senator Tester made a promise to look out for the people of Montana, and that should start with giving hardworking families and individuals more choice over their health care decisions."

BACKGROUND:

Senator Tester Told Montanans Health Insurance Costs Would Go Down Under Obamacare

Tester Said He Supported Obamacare Because It Would "Make Insurance Affordable For All Americans." "This morning I voted to keep the government out of our health care decisions while making insurance affordable for all Americans." (Press Release, "Tester Statement On Passage Of Health Care Reform Bill," Senator Jon Tester, 12/24/09)

But Costs Continued To Increase

Between 2013 And 2017, Individual Market Premiums In Montana Increased By 133 Percent. ("Individual Market Premium Changes: 2013 - 2017," Department Of Health And Human Services, 5/23/17)

Tester Knows Obamacare Isn't Working

In 2017, Tester Said Of Obamacare, "I Regret Not Making It Better." "A top Senate Democrat says he regrets not doing enough to fix Obamacare. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., acknowledged Thursday that mistakes were made with Obamacare and Democrats failed to communicate what was in the bill and did little to make modifications over the past seven years to make it better. 'There were plenty of mistakes made with the Affordable Care Act,' Tester told Fox News. 'It was a big bill that should have been made better and never happened. I regret not making it better.'" (Sean Langille, "Democratic Sen. Jon Tester: I Regret Not Making Obamacare Better," Washington Examiner, 5/4/17)

But Tester Voted Against Providing Relief To Montanans

Tester Voted Against A Partial Repeal Of Obamacare. (S.Amdt. 271 To S.Amdt. 267 To H.R. 1628, Roll Call Vote #169: Amendment Rejected 45-55: R 45-7; D 0-46; I 0-2, 7/26/17, Tester Voted Nay)

* This Bill Would Have Repealed Parts Of Obamacare Including The Individual Mandate While Protecting Market Reforms. "This version repeals the coverage provisions in the Affordable Care Act, including the individual mandate, Medicaid expansion and premium subsidies in two years, but it leaves in place insurance market reforms like ensuring a base level of coverage. It is similar to a 2015 repeal bill that was vetoed by President Barack Obama." (Haeyoun Park, Alicia Parlapiano, And Margot Sanger-Katz, "The Three Plans To Repeal Obamacare That Failed In The Senate This Week," The New York Times, 7/28/17)

Tester Voted Against The "Skinny Repeal" Of Obamacare. (S.Amdt. 667 To S.Amdt. 267 To H.R. 1628, Roll Call Vote #179: Amendment Rejected 49-51: R 49-3; D 0-46; I 0-2, 7/28/17, Tester Voted Nay)

* This Bill Would Have Repealed The Individual And Employer Mandates While Making No Changes To The Medicaid Program. "This version, officially released by Republican leaders on Thursday night, would basically eliminate the least popular parts of the Affordable Care Act, but would make no changes to the Medicaid program. It does little to help Republicans reach important policy goals, like eliminating the Affordable Care Act's insurance regulations or lowering premiums." (Haeyoun Park, Alicia Parlapiano, And Margot Sanger-Katz, "The Three Plans To Repeal Obamacare That Failed In The Senate This Week," The New York Times, 7/28/17)

Tester Also Voted To Keep The Individual Mandate

Tester Voted Against The Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of 2017. (H.R. 1, Roll Call Vote #323: Motion Agreed To 51-48: R 51-0; D 0-46; I 0-2, 12/20/17, Tester Voted Nay)

* The Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Effectively Ended The Individual Mandate. "The individual health insurance mandate goes away in 2019: Beginning in 2019, Americans would no longer be required by law to buy health insurance (or pay a penalty if they don't). The individual mandate is part of the Affordable Care Act, and removing it was a top priority for Trump and congressional Republicans." (Heather Long, "The Final GOP Tax Bill Is Complete. Here's What Is In It.," The Washington Post's Wonkblog, 12/15/17)