Senator Murray: Republicans Can’t Vote for Trump Circuit Court Nominee Readler and Claim to Fight for Families’ Health Care

WASHINGTON, March 7 -- The office of Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, issued the following news release:

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- Senator Murray called on Republicans to live up to their claims to fight for protections for people with pre-existing conditions, oppose judicial nominee who led brief arguing they should be struck down

- Republican Senator once said Readler's argument in the brief he led against families' health care was "as far-fetched as any I've ever heard"

- Senator Murray: "The choice here is simple and straightforward. You can't be for protections for people with pre-existing conditions and for making someone who wants to strike them down a Circuit Judge. You can't fight for families' health care and vote to empower the very people who have been leading the charge to undermine it. You can't vote for Readler, and stand with families"

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Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) voiced her opposition to Chad Readler, President Trump's nominee to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, during a speech on the Senate floor, citing the threat his nomination poses to care for patients and families in Washington state and nationwide. Senator Murray--the top Democrat on the Senate health committee and a vocal champion for improving access to quality, affordable care--blasted Readler's support for President Trump's efforts to sabotage families' health care and undermine protections for people with pre-existing conditions. Additionally, Senator Murray called on Republicans who have claimed to care about protections for people with pre-existing conditions, bringing down health care costs, and helping people get the care they need, to prove it by joining Democrats and voting against Readler's nomination.

Key excerpts from Senator Murray's floor speech:

"I've heard my Republican colleagues claim time and again they care about protections for people with pre-existing conditions. I've heard them say they want to tackle skyrocketing health care costs. I've heard them say they want to help get people the care they need. But when push comes to shove, I have yet to see them join Democrats and actually vote to make it happen. In fact, they have a long track record of working to move us in exactly the opposite direction."

"People across the country haven't forgotten how they had to speak up and stop Republicans from jamming through their awful Trumpcare bill which would have spiked premiums, gutted Medicaid, and put families back at the mercy of big insurance companies, who could jack up prices for people with pre-existing conditions. And they also won't forget if Republicans decide to ignore them again and rally around a judicial nominee who wants to do the same damage. Because let's be clear. Chad Readler's nomination is the latest test of whether Republicans are serious about fighting for people's health care--and every Republican who supports him is failing yet again."

Watch video of Senator Murray's floor speech HERE (https://youtu.be/oeEMJ2mgVVE).

Full text of Senator Murray's floor speech below:

"Thank you M. President.

"I come to the floor today to oppose Chad Readler's nomination to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

"And I call on every Republican who said they were going to fight for families' health care coverage, and protections for people with pre-existing conditions, to prove they meant it by joining me.

"I've heard my Republican colleagues claim time and again they care about protections for people with pre-existing conditions.

"I've heard them say they want to tackle skyrocketing health care costs.

"I've heard them say they want to help get people the care they need.

"But when push comes to shove, I have yet to see them join Democrats and actually vote to make it happen.

"In fact, they have a long track record of working to move us in exactly the opposite direction.

"People across the country haven't forgotten how they had to speak up and stop Republicans from jamming through their awful Trumpcare bill which would have spiked premiums, gutted Medicaid, and put families back at the mercy of big insurance companies, who could jack up prices for people with pre-existing conditions.

"And they also won't forget if Republicans decide to ignore them again and rally around a judicial nominee who wants to do the same damage.

"Because let's be clear. Chad Readler's nomination is the latest test of whether Republicans are serious about fighting for people's health care--and every Republican who supports him is failing yet again.

"Make no mistake, Chad Readler has not only championed some of President Trump's most alarming steps, like his travel ban, his family separation policy, his efforts to undermine protections for LGBTQ people, and more.

"He's also been President Trump's right hand man when it comes to undermining health care for people across the country.

"When the Trump Administration decided to abandon protections for people with pre-existing conditions in court, and throw its weight behind a lawsuit that would strike them down, Chad Readler signed on to the brief defending the decision--a brief three other Justice Department officials refused to sign, and one even resigned over.

"But Chad Readler led the Trump Administration's legal argument for striking down protections for people with pre-existing conditions, increasing costs, and throwing health care for millions of people into utter chaos.

"It was an argument one of my Republican colleagues actually called 'as far-fetched as any I've ever heard.'

"I agree, it is far-fetched.

"Which is why it is also far-fetched for any Republican who votes to confirm Readler to continue pretending they care about protections for pre-existing conditions, or helping families get affordable health care.

"The choice here is simple and straightforward.

"You can't be for protections for people with pre-existing conditions and for making someone who wants to strike them down a Circuit Judge.

"You can't fight for families' health care and vote to empower the very people who have been leading the charge to undermine it.

"You can't vote for Readler, and stand with families.

"People across the country are going to be watching this vote closely.

"Because they know that despite Republicans' promises to fight for their health care...

"When it matters--when the care they need is truly on the line--Republicans haven't come through for them once.

"I hope that changes today.

"I hope instead of breaking their word and voting once more for President Trump's agenda of chaos and health care sabotage, they live up to their promises, and join Democrats, and people across the country, in opposing Readler's nomination.

"M. President, before I wrap up, I want to talk about the larger issue here--because Readler is not the only alarming judicial nominee from President Trump.

"Just this week, Republicans jammed through Allison Rushing, an incredibly inexperienced Circuit Court nominee, who's voiced some incredibly alarming ideological views--especially for women and the LGBTQ community.

"And later this week we expect a vote on Eric Murphy, another nominee who has taken extreme positions on women's health care, from endorsing misinformation by signing on to briefs that cite false claims about women's health, to standing in support of laws that were found to unconstitutionally infringe on women's reproductive rights, and against laws to increase access to contraceptive care.

"People across the country have been absolutely clear--they do not want to see our courts lurch to the far-right.

"They know that this is a threat to women, to workers, to families, to the environment, and so much more.

"So Democrats are going to keep standing up and fighting back every time President Trump and Senate Republican leaders try to move us in that direction--and I hope some Republicans will do the right thing and stand with us.

"Thank you."