Noem Still Putting Loyalty to Trump and Ryan Above Her Constituents’ Healthcare

SIOUX FALLS, S.D., May 3 -- The South Dakota Democratic Party issued the following news release:

This week, Republicans in Congress are trying to force another vote on their disastrous health care bill, which would take health care away from 24 million Americans and raise premiums on older Americans.

The first time Rep. Kristi Noem and her fellow Republicans in Congress tried to push this bill through, the bill had a dismal 17 percent approval from the public, it was opposed by non-partisan groups like the American Medical Association and AARP, and Republicans couldn't get enough votes from their own caucus to pass it.

Now they took a bad bill and made it worse. In order to appease the most right-wing members of their caucus, Republicans edited the bill to allow states to opt out of protecting Americans who have pre-existing conditions like diabetes, asthma, and others.

The bill is still opposed by health groups, and 70 percent of Americans oppose the GOP's newest scheme to allow states to opt out of protecting Americans with pre-existing conditions.

South Dakota Democratic Party Chair Ann Tornberg said, "Republicans in Congress took a bill that raises health care costs and made it worse. It was bad enough that Kristi Noem and her fellow Washington Republicans were ready to take healthcare away from 24 million people - including tens of thousands of South Dakotans - and raise premiums on older Americans. Now they want to go even further and threaten coverage for Americans with pre-existing conditions. During this debate, Kristi Noem has made it clear what is most important to her - loyalty to Donald Trump and Paul Ryan, not the healthcare of hardworking South Dakota families."