DAGA Launches Video Highlighting Stark Contrast Between Democratic AGs and Republican AGs on Healthcare; Watch Here

More than 30 Attorneys General On Ballot On November 6

Washington, D.C.—As national polling continues to show healthcare as a top issue for voters  in the 2018 cycle, the Democratic Attorneys General Association released a video today (here) highlighting the stark contrast between Democratic Attorneys General and their Republican counterparts on healthcare. The video centers on the Texas-led 20-state GOP lawsuit, Texas vs. US, that would gut critical protections in the Affordable Care Act including protections for the 52 million Americans with pre-existing conditions.  This lawsuit was filed in February. By May, California AG Xavier Becerra and 16 Democratic AGs successfully intervened in the federal lawsuit to vigorously defend the ACA and the millions of families across the country who rely on it for affordable care.  

“We regularly see coverage and hear conversations about the role the Senate or the role the House play in the healthcare debate—but right now, the real action is happening at the state AG level,” said Sean Rankin, Executive Director at the Democratic Attorneys General Association. “With the Trump Administration refusing to defend the federal healthcare statute against the GOP lawsuit, the role of the Democratic Attorneys General in preserving meaningful healthcare is more crucial than ever.”

“In short, if you care about your healthcare, you need to care about who your Attorney General is—and where they stand on healthcare,” Rankin added.

In addition to Texas AG Ken Paxton, Republican attorneys general from Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin and governors from Maine and Mississippi are parties to the lawsuit attempting to dismantle healthcare for Americans millions of Americans. Twelve of these Republican AGs suing to gut healthcare are running for re-election or another seat on the ballot this November.

Joining California AG Xavier Becerra to defend the ACA, Democratic attorneys general from Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai’i, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia successfully intervened in the case.  Four of the Democratic AGs intervening to defend the ACA are running for re-election in November.  

“On November 6, voters will go to the polls to elect AGs in more than 30 states, and we need to make sure voters understand what is at stake,” continued Rankin. “If the Republican-led lawsuit is successful, the entire ACA is on the line—including protections for 130 million people with preexisting conditions.”

Democratic AG candidates in states across the country are calling out Republican AGs for this dangerous attack on the Affordable Care Act that puts healthcare at risk for millions of Americans. Democratic candidates are also putting pressure on their Republican challengers to tell voters where they stand on the issue.

Here is a look at some of the Democratic AG candidate action on healthcare:

• Texas: Justin Nelson launched #MyPreExisting (mypreexisting.com), a nationwide grassroots campaign designed to raise awareness of a lawsuit filed by his opponent, indicted AG Ken Paxton, the state’s Republican incumbent attorney general who is indicted for securities fraud.  Nelson dropped the ad “Justin Nelson: Fighting for Coverage of Preexisting Conditions” linked here.
  
• Wisconsin: In his recent ad “Families,” Josh Kaul highlights his plans to advocate on behalf of Wisconsin families once he is AG. Among the initiatives mentioned are Josh Kaul ‘s dedication to preserving pre-existing condition coverage, as well as presenting a plan to tackle the opioid epidemic. Watch “Families” here.
  
• Arizona: Unlike her GOP opponent Mark Brnovich, January Contreras is committed to defending affordable health care, not partisan agendas. Her top priority as AG would be the needs of the people of Arizona. See her promise to voters here.
  
• Michigan: Dana Nessel dropped an ad focusing on how as a mom to twins born premature who spent weeks in the NICU, she knows how important access to affordable health care is for families. As AG, she will fight to protect coverage for people with pre-existing conditions and fight to make sure Michigan families have access to life-saving care. Check out Nessel’s ad, “Twins”, here.
• Minnesota: No family should have to decide between paying for groceries or seeing a doctor. That is why Keith Ellison will be a fierce advocate for access to quality and affordable healthcare. Watch Ellison’s ad here.
• Illinois: Kwame Raoul launched an ad focused on how as a cancer survivor, he knows the importance of quality, affordable healthcare. Republicans like his GOP opponent Erika Harold aren’t willing to fight to protect healthcare.  Check out Kwame Raoul’s ads “Scared” and “A Human Right”.
• Florida: Sean Shaw has dropped two ads which focus on how his GOP opponent, Ashley Moody, has received large donations from big insurance companies and the NRA. Shaw’s ads show that Moody would be weak on gun reform and weak on defending healthcare coverage for people with pre-existing conditions. Watch Sean Shaw’s ads “I Will” and “Your Side.”
• Colorado: As Phil Weiser traveled the state, Coloradans shared stories of how access to affordable healthcare matters to them. As Colorado’s next Attorney General, Phil will protect the rights of Coloradans like Honey, featured in this video, from attacks on the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Her daughter is one of Colorado’s 290,000 children with pre-existing conditions who are protected by the ACA.  See Honey’s stories and others from Phil Weiser travels here.
• Ohio: Steve Dettelbach says on his first day in office he would have Ohio jump into a lawsuit to protect the Affordable Care Act. He says this would be the best way to defend coverage for pre-existing conditions. See more about Dettelbach’s plans here.