09.27.13

Hoeven Statement on the Continuing Resolution and the Effort to Defund Obamacare

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement regarding the effort to defund Obamacare and passage of a Senate continuing resolution to prevent a shutdown of the U.S. government:

“Earlier this year, I voted to repeal Obamacare, and today in an effort to stop its implementation, I voted to retain a provision in the continuing resolution before the U.S. Senate that defunds it. Despite Obamacare’s broad unpopularity with the American people, Harry Reid and a Democrat majority were able to strip out the defunding measure because not a single Democrat stood with Republicans to retain the defunding provision.

“The continuing resolution now goes to the House, where we will continue the effort to defund or delay Obamacare while passing a measure that prevents a shutdown and continues to fund government at the Budget Control Act level to address our deficit. In the House, there will be additional opportunities to add amendments that could strike onerous parts of the law, such as the medical device tax.

“Democrats need to join with us, in a bipartisan way, and the American people to repeal Obamacare and replace it with health care reform that empowers people to choose their own doctor and health insurance plan. We want measures like tort reform, health care savings accounts and more competition across state lines in the health insurance marketplace that will bring down the cost of health care and make it affordable for all.”