Montana Democratic Party: Cooney Slams Gianforte for Backing Lawsuit to Overturn ACA, Eliminate Medicaid Expansion in Montana

HELENA, Montana, Sept. 25 -- The Montana Democratic Party issued the following news release on Sept. 24:

Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney yesterday slammed Greg Gianforte for supporting efforts to get rid of the Affordable Care Act and the protections it provides for thousands of Montanans who depend on it for access to quality, affordable health care.

According to the Missoula Current, "The Republican candidate for governor Greg Gianforte has backed GOP efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and in June he voted against a program expansion."

Overturning the ACA would eliminate Montana's Medicaid expansion program, which would rip away coverage for more than 90,000 Montanans and remove protections for folks with pre-existing conditions, bring back lifetime or annual caps on coverage, and decimate Montana's rural health care system.

"Our rural clinics and critical access clinics depend upon the ACA to keep their doors open and continue serving the rural parts of our state," Cooney said on Wednesday. "Repealing the ACA would sever a critical lifeline for those hospitals and care facilities. I don't have to tell you what happens to a rural community when folks can no longer get the healthcare they need."

Gianforte even went a step further on Wednesday, voicing his unequivocal support for the nominee to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court despite not knowing who that nominee will be. The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on a lawsuit aimed at overturning the ACA on November 10.

"Greg Gianforte is doing what he always does: falling in line with his party bosses in DC, and the result may be 1-in-10 Montanans losing their health coverage during a pandemic," said MDP Deputy Communications Director Matt Fidel. "Montanans need a strong governor who will stand up for them and defend their access to quality, affordable health care instead of working to strip it away."