Governor Bentley, Legislators in Washington Ahead of Expected Vote on Health Care Bill

MONTGOMERY, Ala., March 20 -- Gov. Robert Bentley, R-Ala., issued the following news release:

Governor Robert Bentley on Monday is in Washington, D.C. along with Cabinet leaders and Alabama Legislative Leadership days before the U.S. House is expected to take up a vote on the American Health Care Act. The team will have several meetings Monday with Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price and key Congressional leaders to address concerns about the anticipated Repeal and Replacement of the Affordable Care Act and the potential adverse effect of any changes on Alabama's Medicaid System.

The two day mission follows a series of meetings Governor Bentley has held with non-expansion state governors, the Alabama Republican Party Executive Committee, as well as multiple meetings with Republican Governors to address states' concerns with a Repeal and Replacement of the ACA.

"As a Physician and as Alabama's Governor, I have stood in opposition to the Affordable Care Act from day one. It's not about health care of patients, and it's certainly anything but affordable, " said Governor Bentley. "Alabama stood strong against the expansion of Medicaid because we simply cannot afford it. Now that a Repeal of the ACA appears imminent, we want to insure Alabama's Medicaid system will be supported, and states given broad flexibility in any efforts to replace this unworkable and expensive law. We want to insure Alabama's needs are known and clearly understood before a vote takes place."

Governor Bentley is joined on the two-day mission by Alabama Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon, Senator Greg Reed, Senator Tripp Pittman and Alabama Medicaid Commissoner Stephanie Azar.

On Tuesday the team is schedule to hold meetings with key White House administrators as well as the Alabama Congressional delegation.

"We have a strong Alabama team in Congress, and we have stayed in close contact throughout the effort to pass a new healthcare law. One size does not fit all when it comes to sovereign states and their needs. I am confident our Alabama delegation will always do what's in the best interest of our people."

Governor Bentley and the team are expected to return Tuesday evening.

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