Sander Levin: Republicans Have 'Blind Obsession' With Repealing Obamacare

Congressman Sander Levin, a Democrat whose district includes Clinton Township, and ranking member of the House Ways and Means Committee released the following statement Friday on GOP's 40th repeal vote on the Affordable Care Act, according to his office:

We are now seven months into this House Republican session. It has been nothing more than a bridge to nowhere. Nowhere on jobs. Nowhere on immigration reform. Nowhere on a budget agreement. And nowhere on most Appropriations bills.

Instead, House Republicans today continue their obsession with trying to destroy the bridge built by the President and the Democratic Congress to somewhere vital – putting all Americans in charge of their own health care.

This bill is nothing more than a continuation of Republicans’ blind obsession with repealing the Affordable Care Act.

This is how Republicans have chosen to spend their last day before they recess this House for five weeks.

It is so clear. The Republican mission is to destroy, not implement health care reform.

Rather than help lead on the issue of health care, House Republicans have spent the last two-plus years trying to mislead Americans about their health care rights under the Affordable Care Act.

I expect more of the same misinformation during this debate. So let’s be clear about the facts.

So far 13 states have published preliminary premiums for marketplace coverage. Within those states, Americans will be able to purchase insurance at a price that is on average 20 percent below what the Congressional Budget Office estimated.

In Michigan, there will be 14 insurance carriers in the marketplace.

Be prepared for more scare tactics and other misguided efforts from Republicans to convince constituents that applying for health coverage will be time-consuming and cumbersome.

This should be stated categorically: Neither the Internal Revenue Service nor the Department of Health and Human Services will have access to medical records or other personal health history. No access whatsoever.

Do you agree with Congressman Sander Levin? Tell us why or why not in the comments' section.