Raimondo leads Democratic governors’ defense of Obamacare in face of new GOP attack

March 26-- Mar. 26--Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo hit leadoff Tuesday in a lineup of Democratic governors taking swings at the latest legal challenge to Obamacare.

"In short, the Trump administration is giving up on 20 million Americans who rely for their health care and in many cases their lives on the Affordable Care Act," Raimondo told reporters on a conference call organized by the Democratic Governors Association, which she chairs this year. "We see people every day in our states and communities who are telling us they need the Affordable Care Act in order to be able to maintain their health-care coverage for themselves and their families."

Raimondo joined Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lynn Lujan Grisham to blast the announcement Monday that the Justice Department is now arguing that a federal judge's ruling in Texas striking down the entire Affordable Care Act should be upheld.

Democrats have seized on defending the Affordable Care Act from Republican attacks, which they saw as a winning issue in last year's midterm elections.

Raimondo and her fellow Democratic governors Tuesday reeled off how Obamacare -- including protections for people with preexisting medical conditions, health-benefits exchanges and a Medicaid expansion -- has helped their states reduce the number of residents without insurance.

Raimondo said 100,000 Rhode Islanders owe their health-care coverage to Obamacare: 70,000 through the Medicaid expansion and 30,000 through the HealthSource RI exchange. She said 96 percent of Rhode Islanders and 98 percent of children are insured.

The new legal fight around Obamacare comes as the Rhode Island General Assembly considers proposals to enshrine Affordable Care Act protections in state law, create an individual mandate to buy insurance, and start a reinsurance fund to lower premiums.

The state proposals would not replace federal subsidies and Medicaid funding attached to the ACA.

"People shouldn't have to choose between going to the doctor and paying their rent," Raimondo said. "Today, Democratic governors resoundingly double down on our commitment to the American people to do everything within our power to shore up the Affordable Care Act."

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