Upton Trails in Poll After Saving Toxic Republican Health Care Bill

LANSING, Mich., May 11 -- The Michigan Democratic Party issued the following news release:

A new poll published today in Politico shows Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) facing serious fallout for his role as architect of the disastrous Republican health care bill that passed the U.S. House last week. The poll shows Upton, who's served in Congress for 24 years, would lose his seat next year to a generic Democratic opponent, 37 percent-41 percent.

The toxic GOP health bill was on the brink of death until Upton revived it with an amendment that throws money at ineffective high-risk polls. That was enough to sway his vote in favor of a plan that he had opposed just one day prior, and that would kill protections for those with pre-existing conditions, institute an 'age tax' by allowing insurers to jack up rates on seniors not yet eligible for Medicare, and leave 24 million Americans without health insurance.

"Congressman Fred Upton is taking on water for reviving a terrible bill that will cause costs to skyrocket while cutting coverage. There's a reason why voters are once again protesting at his office today. Upton should be ashamed to have voted for plan that leaves seniors and people with pre-existing conditions in the cold. This new poll should serve as warning to Republicans that betraying your constituents by cutting their health care is a political dead end," said Michigan Democratic Party Chair Brandon Dillon.

The poll of 797 voters in Michigan's 6th Congressional District was done on May 6 and 7 by the nonprofit Democratic group Patriot Majority USA. The margin of error was 3.5 percent. The poll also found that President Donald Trump has a negative favorability rating in the 6th District, with 41 percent viewing him positively and 44 percent viewing him negatively.