Heller votes to proceed with talks on Obamacare repeal

July 25--Health care talks are moving forward in Washington, D.C., after a Senate vote today.

U.S. Senator Dean Heller, R-Nev., voted in support of a motion to push forward with efforts to roll back Obamacare.

"Obamacare isn't the answer, but doing nothing to try to solve the problems it has created isn't the answer either," Heller said in a statement shortly before the Senate vote. "That is why I will vote to move forward and give us a chance to address the unworkable aspects of the law that have left many Nevadans -- particularly those living in rural areas -- with dwindling or no choices."

He noted that his vote to proceed was not a vote in favor of the GOP bill.

"If the final product isn't improved for the state of Nevada, then I will not vote for it," he said. "if it is improved, I will support it."

Heller is up for re-election next year and has stood with Gov. Brian Sandoval in opposing a previous version of the Republican health plan. The current legislation would repeal without replacing certain provisions in the Affordable Care Act.

It's unclear whether the legislation will have enough votes to pass.

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., voted no.

"This vote today is a disaster for Nevada," Cortez Masto said in a statement after the vote. "It will hurt hundreds of thousands of Nevadans."

Rep. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., who is running against Heller next year, said in a statement after today's vote that Heller folded under pressure from President Donald Trump and GOP leaders.

"Sen. Heller's deciding vote is a slap in the face for Nevada families who are terrified of having their costs spike or their coverage disappear because of this reckless repeal effort," Rosen said.

Rep. Ruben J. Kihuen, D-Nev., said in a statement after the vote that the Senate's decision brought the GOP closer to "crippling" the country's health care system.

"If successful, their efforts would leave millions without health coverage, cut funds for Medicaid, and increase healthcare costs for hardworking families," Kihuen said. "Attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act should be alarming to each and every American. Our health care system is uniquely complex and requires a uniquely American solution. What we don't need are misguided attempts to score political points that will only result in millions of Americans losing coverage and paying more for less care."

Nevada Advocates for Planned Parenthood Affiliates says Trumpcare would block Medicaid patients from using Planned Parenthood to access health care. The group's director of government relations, Elisa Cafferata, said in a statement today that Heller's vote shows he was playing politics.

"In all of its various forms, this bill is the worst bill for women in a generation," Cafferata said. "From ending maternity coverage and the birth control benefit for millions to blocking women's access to preventive care at Planned Parenthood, every version of Trumpcare has been devastating to women."

Leslie Dach, director of the pro-Obamacare Protect Our Care Campaign, said in a statement that "every nonpartisan analysis has shown that health care repeal means tens of millions lose insurance, premiums go up by double digits and patient protections for life threatening diseases get gutted."

"It's long past time for them to abandon this Republicans-only health care repeal and work with Democrats to improve our health care system," Dach said.

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