Once Again, Daines Confirms Judge Who Poses Risk to Law That Expanded Montanans' Health Care Access

HELENA, Montana, Sept. 18 -- The Montana Democratic Party issued the following news release on Sept. 17:

Yesterday, Senator Steve Daines voted to confirm Stephen McGlynn to the Southern District Court of Illinois. McGlynn has criticized the Affordable Care Act - the law which currently provides critical coverage protections for 152,000 Montanans with pre-existing conditions. McGlynn has called the law "bad" and said it had "serious problems."

Daines' vote for McGlynn is just the latest in his long-standing crusade to sabotage Montanans' health care. During his time in the Senate, Daines has voted repeatedly to undermine the ACA, and now supports a partisan lawsuit to overturn the law. If Daines got his way and the ACA was overturned, it could rip away health coverage from 112,000 Montanans, and gut Medicaid expansion that covers more than 80,000 Montanans, strengthens access to mental health and substance use disorder treatments, and bolsters rural hospitals.

Instead of fighting to protect Montanans' health care, Daines has been busy cozying up to his insurance industry donors - pocketing more than $300,000 in campaign cash as he voted repeatedly to let them deny health care coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.

"In the middle of an unprecedented public health crisis, Steve Daines continues his crusade to sabotage Montanans' health care coverage," said MDP Communications Director Christina Wilkes. "Montanans deserve a Senator with a proven record of fighting for affordable and accessible health care, not one who is busy looking out for his insurance industry donors."