State of Louisiana Archives: on Health Care
John Bel Edwards:
COVID: Relying on doctors and scientists and epidemiologists
I know some of you have questions about the vaccines. That's ok. Most of us, myself included, didn't go to medical school. That's why I have Dr. Joe Kanter with me at every COVID press conference. That's why you see doctors and nurses on the
news reaching out to the public. So when you hear me say the shots are safe and effective, that's not coming from me. That's coming from doctors and scientists and epidemiologists.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to Louisiana legislature
Apr 12, 2021
John Bel Edwards:
Medicaid expansion saved lives
It's why 5 years ago I expanded Medicaid to the working poor in Louisiana. Because of that decision, many more people have had access to a primary care physician and the ability to afford prescription medication in order to treat or control
underlying conditions that make them more susceptible to COVID. I know that we still have a lot of work to do in order to improve health outcomes, but I can't imagine how many more people would have died this past year if not for Medicaid expansion.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to Louisiana legislature
Apr 12, 2021
Adrian Perkins:
COVID19: Mandatory mask order, penalties for non-compliance
A Caddo District Court judge has temporarily stopped enforcement of Mayor Adrian Perkins' face mask mandate. Violations are assessed to the businesses, which face being shut down, having their water turned off or loss of liquor licenses if applicable.
During the news conference Perkins did not identify a legal basis for his order, "implicitly acknowledging the political implications of his order" by claiming his order "is not about politics."
Source: KTBS-TV ABC-3 on 2020 Louisiana Senate race
Jul 11, 2020
Antoine Pierce:
Need to address the structural racism in healthcare system
Governor John Bel Edwards shared that African Americans, who only make up 32% of Louisiana's population, have accounted for 70% of the state's [coronavirus] deaths. Yet when asked on NPR whether this is a result of systemic racism, Senator Bill Cassidy
immediately rejected the idea as "rhetoric" and refused to acknowledge a need to address any underlying causes.[Antoine Pierce writes]: Contrary to Cassidy's assertion, the healthcare disparity is not just a distraction. It must be addressed
as part of the solution to the current pandemic. Senator Cassidy could also recognize this for the wake up call that it is and get to work addressing the structural racism in our healthcare system, our schools, our criminal
justice system, our environment and our economy that is at the root of these health disparities.
The spread and deaths from COVID-19 are preventable and reveal ugly truths about racial disparities in our state.
Source: Big Easy Magazine on 2020 Louisiana Senate race
Apr 10, 2020
Bill Cassidy:
Coronavirus racial disparity not result of systemic racism
Governor John Bel Edwards shared that African Americans, who only make up 32% of Louisiana's population, have accounted for 70% of the state's [coronavirus] deaths. Yet when asked on NPR whether this is a result of systemic racism, Senator Bill Cassidy
immediately rejected the idea as "rhetoric" and refused to acknowledge a need to address any underlying causes.[Senate opponent Antoine Pierce writes]: Contrary to Cassidy's assertion, the healthcare disparity is not just a distraction.
It must be addressed as part of the solution to the current pandemic. Senator Cassidy could also recognize this for the wake up call that it is and get to work addressing the structural racism in our healthcare system, our schools, our criminal justice
system, our environment and our economy that is at the root of these health disparities.
The spread and deaths from COVID-19 are preventable and reveal ugly truths about racial disparities in our state.
Source: Big Easy Magazine on 2020 Louisiana Senate race
Apr 10, 2020
Antoine Pierce:
Supports Medicare for All
Top Policy Priorities: - Universal Healthcare/Medicare For All
- Protect women's rights and autonomy
- Medicinal cannabis prescription and recreational legalization
Source: 2020 Louisiana Senate campaign website AntoinePierce.com
Feb 4, 2020
Antoine Pierce:
For universal coverage; no limits on preexisting conditions
The biggest issue facing my community is the lack or quality healthcare coverage.
I plan to fight for universal healthcare coverage that does not allow limits or restrictions for people with preexisting conditions.
Source: DemCast USA on 2020 Louisiana Senate race
Nov 19, 2019
Eddie Rispone:
Problems with Medicaid expansion including fraud, abuse
On whether or not to keep Medicaid expansion: Rispone: Yes. But Rispone said he doesn't believe the cost for the state, a maximum of
10% compared to the federal 90% share, is sustainable. He, too, believes the expansion is wrought with fraud and abuse.
Source: The News-Star on 2019 Louisiana Gubernatorial race
Oct 8, 2019
Eddie Rispone:
Medicaid expansion "bungled," and is unsustainable
On health care, neither Republican supports rolling back Edwards' Medicaid expansion, but both say the Democrat has bungled the program. "The way it's done is unsustainable," Rispone said. "It's going to go broke if we don't do something.
Medicaid is for the people who cannot help themselves - and we keep expanding and expanding and expanding to more than that."
Source: Politico.com on 2019 Louisiana Gubernatorial race
Oct 1, 2019
Antoine Pierce:
Supports Medicare-for-All with option for private insurance
Said Pierce, "The problem for most patients isn't necessarily how much medical services cost. The problem is that most couldn't afford the services no matter how much they cost."Pierce believes that no citizen of the richest country in the world
should die because they cannot afford healthcare coverage or their prescription medication. Pierce supports Universal Healthcare/Medicare For All with an option that allows the insured to retain their private/employer provided insurance if they want to.
Source: ePRnews.com on 2020 Louisiana Senate race
Sep 17, 2019
Eddie Rispone:
Temporarily freeze Medicaid enrollment in Louisiana
Rispone said he would prefer to "freeze" Medicaid enrollment in Louisiana in order to address concerns about the program's management. He said the freeze would be a situation in which Louisiana would stop enrolling new people into Medicaid, but keep
insurance paid up for those already in the program. Once the kinks of the Medicaid program are fixed, then enrollment could continue as usual, according to Rispone. "We would move as fast as possible," he said.
Source: Times-Picayune on 2019 Louisiana Gubernatorial race
Mar 19, 2019
John Bel Edwards:
Pro-life includes helping the poor get access to health care
In 2016, Gov. Edwards took advantage of the federal government's Medicaid expansion offer, the same offer his Republican predecessor had rejected. By the end of 2017, the number of Louisianans without basic health coverage was half
what it had been just the year before. The man himself sees a common principle at work: "The idea of not doing the Medicaid expansion,
I just couldn't reconcile that, because I am pro-life. And the pro-life ethos has to mean more than just the abortion issue.
[Abortion] is fundamental, and I understand how important it is, but it's got to go beyond that. The job isn't over when the baby's born if you've got poor people who need access to health care."
Source: America Magazine on 2019 Louisiana gubernatorial race
Dec 14, 2018
John Bel Edwards:
Medicaid expansion addresses opioid crisis
Medicaid expansion continues to change lives. Most importantly, Medicaid expansion is saving lives. Additionally, expansion is helping us address Louisiana's opioid crisis by giving more people access to the treatment they need. Through expansion,
nearly 16,000 people have received inpatient or outpatient treatment for substance abuse. That's 16,000 more people who have a second chance at life and 16,000 fewer families who will have to suffer the heartbreak of losing a loved one to addiction.
Source: 2018 Louisiana State of the State address
Mar 12, 2018
John Bel Edwards:
Medicaid expansion reduced uninsured by 43% & saved $200M
I cannot overstate how important this decision on Medicaid expansion has been for our state and her people. The numbers speak for themselves:- Nearly 417,000 individuals have received health coverage through Medicaid expansion.
- More than
77,000 individuals have received preventive care services since coverage began July 1, many seeing doctors for the first time in years.
- Louisiana's uninsured rate has dropped from 22 percent in 2013 to below 12.6 percent--a nearly 43 percent drop
in the uninsured rate. It is one of the greatest drops in uninsured rates in the entire country.
- In the process of doing all of this, Louisiana is projected to save nearly $200 million in the first year alone, and we're projected to save more than
$300 million in the next fiscal year.
Our state has reaped tremendous benefits from Medicaid Expansion. We are getting more people treatment, which doesn't just benefit the individuals that make up those statistics, but their families too.
Source: 2017 Louisiana State of the State address
Apr 10, 2017
Clay Higgins:
Repeal ObamaCare's 2800 pages of unintelligible psychobabble
2,800 pages of unintelligible psychobabble. It's the most egregious seizure of power and treasure from the American people in history. It's the worst idea in an elaborate history of bad ideas. It's a book of lies, based on lies, sold by liars.
ObamaCare must be repealed. Period.We don't have a health care problem in America. America is home to the very finest doctors and medical infrastructure in the world. We do not have a health CARE problem. Further, private health INSURANCE policies
work relatively well. The health insurance policies themselves are not necessarily a problem: the problem is what these policies cost us. We have a health insurance EXPENSE problem. It's a problem that could easily be fixed. Lobbyists and special
interests lead by the TRIAL LAWYER LOBBY in DC rigged our system long ago, when it was federally mandated that EACH STATE have its own unique infrastructure for every health insurance provider.
Source: 2016 Louisiana House campaign website CaptainHiggins.com
Dec 10, 2016
Mike Johnson:
Replace ObamaCare with patient-centered, market-based plan
As your Congressman I will Repeal and Replace ObamaCare:- As so many of us predicted, the so-called Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("ObamaCare") has proven to be a disaster. It has offered neither protection nor affordability, and
indeed has resulted in exactly the opposite. ObamaCare has driven up premiums and made the cost of doing business increase drastically. A recent Gallup poll estimated that at least one-fifth of small businesses in the U.S. have already had to cut
millions of jobs because of the law. I will help lead the fight in Congress to repeal ObamaCare in its entirety.
- We will replace ObamaCare with a sensible new plan that is more patient-centered and market-based. Our plan will prevent government
bureaucrats from interfering in the doctor-patient relationship and put healthcare decisions back in the hands of individuals and families. Free market principles can save our healthcare system, but we must allow them to flourish again.
Source: 2016 House campaign website MikeJohnsonForLouisiana.com
Dec 10, 2016
Thomas Clements:
Cost is the only thing that has expanded under ObamaCare
Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Expand ObamaCare"?
A: Cost is the only thing that has expanded under Obamacare.
Source: Email interview on 2016 Louisiana Senate race by OnTheIssues
Jul 31, 2016
Jay Dardenne:
I would accept Medicaid expansion, under certain conditions
I wouldn't accept Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, at least not right out of the gate. But one of the first things I would do is establish a task force, and give them a time limit. And say you're going to have 30 or 45 days,
Mr. Task Force, to bring me a waiver proposal that we can submit to CMS in Washington that will justify us taking the Medicaid money. I am especially more open to this since our state has cancelled the Medicaid contract with Planned Parenthood.
Source: WRKF 89.3-FM on 2015 Louisiana Gubernatorial race
Aug 31, 2015
David Vitter:
Fight to repeal the fatally flawed ObamaCare
David has led the fight against ObamaCare. He'll continue that fight to repeal the fatally flawed program and replace it with common sense solutions that allow
Louisianians to keep the insurance they like, promote preventative and primary care, lower costs, and expand access.
David will work hard to ensure that our new public-private hospital partnerships really work for all Louisianians. He'll fight to reform the broken Medicaid program and promote preventative and primary care, which produce better outcomes and save
taxpayer dollars.
In the U.S. Senate, David has strongly opposed ObamaCare, Obama's unconstitutional executive orders, and wasteful deficit spending. And he's refused Congress' lucrative ObamaCare subsidy and retirement benefits.
Source: 2015 Louisiana Governor campaign website, DavidVitter.com
Aug 11, 2015
Jay Dardenne:
Don't leave LA at the mercy of Washington bureaucrats
Dardenne is in favor of administering ObamaCare in a responsible way that benefits everyone. He believes we should not be held hostage to federal rules. What Edwards is proposing is irresponsible and would leave us at the mercy of Washington bureaucrats
to dictate policy here in Louisiana. Shortly after the AARP forum, the two candidates continued the lively debate on Twitter. Edwards overlooked all the negative impacts that come along with the federal mandates as they're currently written:EDWARDS: q
@JayDardenne says he would delay Medicaid expansion and receipt of $16B of our tax dollars to submit waiver, delaying care.
DARDENNE: @JohnBelforLA has a ton of promises, but not the experience nor the votes to get any of his proposals through.
I can get it done.
EDWARDS: Thanks for pointing out that expanding Medicaid requires no vote. So no reason to stall, hurt citizens and waste tax dollars.
DARDENNE: Placing Louisiana on the hook, under the current ACA rules, is foolish and insolvent.
Source: 2015 Louisiana gubernatorial debate on Twitter.com
Aug 8, 2015
Jay Dardenne:
Don't accept Medicaid expansion as-is; get LA waiver
The candidates debated on Twitter about Medicaid expansion and an ObamaCare waiver for Louisiana:EDWARDS: Waiver removes flexibility in how to spend the tax $ we won't get for the 18 months you delay.
DARDENNE: Untrue.
Waiver that #PutLouisianaFirst gives us a chance to address the issue w/o breaking the backs of the taxpayers.
EDWARDS: Continuing to send our federal taxes to other states while we wait for waiver hurts taxpayers. Not the other way around.
DARDENNE: You're writing a check Louisiana just can't cash in the long run. Those are empty promises, friend.
EDWARDS: End the deception. We are paying the taxes already and refusing the care. That is the real story.
DARDENNE: Edwards wants to accept
Medicaid expansion "as-is" coming from DC. I don't. I want to "Put Louisiana First" with a flexible waiver.
EDWARDS: We pay the taxes, and currently refuse to accept them back. Dollars comes from Louisiana taxpayers, not DC.
Source: 2015 Louisiana gubernatorial debate on Twitter.com
Aug 8, 2015
John Bel Edwards:
Don't delay Medicaid expansion; that ties up LA tax dollars
After the AARP Louisiana forum, the candidates continued the lively debate on Twitter:EDWARDS: @JayDardenne says he would delay Medicaid expansion and receipt of $16B of our tax dollars to submit waiver, delaying care.
DARDENNE: @JohnBelforLA has a
ton of promises, but not the experience nor the votes to get any of his proposals through. I can get it done.
EDWARDS: Thanks for pointing out that expanding Medicaid requires no vote. So no reason to stall, hurt citizens and waste tax dollars.
DARDENNE: Placing Louisiana on the hook, under the current ACA rules, is foolish and insolvent. Try putting Louisiana before party.
EDWARDS: Waiver removes flexibility in how to spend the tax $ we won't get for the 18 months you delay.
DARDENNE:
Untrue. Waiver that #PutLouisianaFirst gives us a chance to address the issue w/o breaking the backs of the taxpayers.
EDWARDS: Continuing to send our federal taxes to other states while we wait for waiver hurts taxpayers. Not the other way around.
Source: 2015 Louisiana gubernatorial debate on Twitter.com
Aug 8, 2015
John Fleming:
If Supreme Court bans ObamaCare subsidies, let them die
Preparing for a Supreme Court decision that could strike down Obamacare's subsidies for nearly 7.5 million people this summer, Senate Republicans are coalescing around a plan to resurrect them. 31 senators have signed on to a bill that would restore the
subsidies for current Obamacare enrollees through September 2017. But the administration would have to pay a heavy price--the bill would also repeal Obamacare's individual and employer mandates and insurance coverage requirements.
Some Republicans worry that any legislation that extends the subsidies, even temporarily, would not only box the party into keeping them indefinitely but also water down the party's opposition to the president's health law. "We do get into a little
trouble on the messaging because people say: 'What is the difference between that and what we're already doing?'" said Rep. John Fleming (R-LA). "Whether you continue subsidies or you use tax credits, they're all tax credit programs one way or another."
Source: Politico.com coverage of 2016 Louisiana Senate race
May 26, 2015
Ralph Abraham:
Repeal ObamaCare; don't expand Medicaid
Obamacare is broken. As a physician, I see the problems with it everyday and know I can offer solutions to improve it. Let's fix our healthcare system by letting patients work with their family physicians to enable the greatest possible healthcare.
I am against expanding Medicaid in Louisiana and I believe the Affordable Care Act is a failure that must be reformed either through repeal or new legislation.
I would vote to repeal it on every level at every opportunity, but the House has tried that all-or-nothing approach and it has failed every time.
If we can't repeal it, we need to change it piece by piece, incorporating the things that do work in a new bill.
Source: 2014 Louisiana House campaign website, RalphAbraham.com
Dec 5, 2014
Ralph Abraham:
ObamaCare a daily dangerous debacle for working physicians
Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo, a Democrat, and Dr. Ralph Abraham, a Republican, fielded questions on the debt ceiling, Medicaid expansion and other topics in a debate before their runoff election for the 5th Congressional District seat.
One of the hot topics was the Affordable Care Act."I've said all along, concerning the Affordable Care Act, there are some great features," Mayo said. "There are some challenges and there are some issues with the Affordable Care Act.
You don't just tear up the whole thing and try to bring something back. You just fix what's wrong with it."
Abraham said he thinks it needs to be repealed. "You should come to my practice in Mangham on a daily basis and
I can show you the debacle of the ObamaCare law, if we can even call it that," he said. "As a practicing physician, right now, it's not working and it's even dangerous."
Source: The News-Star on 2019 Louisiana gubernatorial race
Nov 20, 2014
Ralph Abraham:
No expansion of Medicaid, even if I make money on it
On a question about the expansion of Medicaid, Mayo took the opportunity to criticize Abraham and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, bringing applause from the audience: "The governor took the easier way out by just deciding to go against
(a Medicaid expansion). My opponent will tell you he's against it, but he has made millions of dollars from Medicaid and Medicare."
Abraham responded by saying expanding Medicaid would be a bad thing. "You would think if I've made millions of dollars from it, then I would be for it." Abraham said. "To expand Medicaid would take in 500,000-plus people.
What the Obama administration won't tell you is that 260,000 of those would be moved from private insurance groups."
Source: The News-Star on 2019 Louisiana gubernatorial race
Nov 20, 2014
Mary Landrieu:
Mandatory quarantine for returning Ebola healthcare workers
On the threat of a wider spread of the Ebola virus inside the United States, both Landrieu and Maness called for tough measures. Landrieu said there should be a mandatory quarantine for healthcare workers returning from working in West Africa, where the
disease has spread most broadly--an idea that has grown controversial in light of public complaints by a nurse who has been quarantined in New Jersey about her confinement. "I know this is tough, but this is a tough disease," Landrieu said.
Landrieu touted her support for immigration reform, and in particular her support for relief for immigrants who were brought into the country illegally as children--known as DREAMers.
Maness said that he opposed a path to citizenship. He also said that unaccompanied child migrants who arrive at the Southern border should be sent back to their country of origin.
Source: The Hill on 2014 Louisiana Senate debate
Oct 27, 2014
Garret Graves:
Repeal ObamaCare
Q: The Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) should be repealed by Congress?
GRAVES: Strongly Agree
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Louisiana House race
Sep 30, 2014
Ralph Abraham:
Repeal ObamaCare
Q: The Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) should be repealed by Congress?
ABRAHAM: Agree
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Louisiana House race
Sep 30, 2014
Bobby Jindal:
No medical school needed for optometrist eye surgeries
Legislative Summary: HB1065: OPTOMETRISTS: Provides relative to the practice of optometry and the regulation of such professionAnalysis by Times-Picayune: The Legislature agreed to make Louisiana the country's third state
to authorize some eye doctors who did not attend medical school to perform certain surgeries. The controversial legislation authorizes optometrists to perform surgical procedures that are currently limited in this state and 47 others to the practice of
ophthalmology. The bill's supporters say the move expands access to eye care, especially for residents in rural areas. Its opponents call it an effort by optometrists to sideline education and expand their practice to include surgery instead through
legislation in order to charge more money.
Legislative Outcome: Passed House -32-6, Vote #775 66 on May/7/14; Passed Senate 25-12-2, Vote #1274 on May/21/14; Signed by Governor Bobby Jindal on Jun/1/14.
Source: Times-Picayune: Louisiana legislative voting records HB1065
Jun 1, 2014
John Bel Edwards:
No medical school needed for optometrist eye surgeries
Legislative Summary: HB1065: OPTOMETRISTS: Provides relative to the practice of optometry and the regulation of such professionAnalysis by Times-Picayune: The Legislature agreed to make Louisiana the country's third state
to authorize some eye doctors who did not attend medical school to perform certain surgeries. The controversial legislation authorizes optometrists to perform surgical procedures that are currently limited in this state and 47 others to the practice of
ophthalmology. The bill's supporters say the move expands access to eye care, especially for residents in rural areas. Its opponents call it an effort by optometrists to sideline education and expand their practice to include surgery instead through
legislation in order to charge more money.
Legislative Outcome: Passed House -32-6, Vote #775 66 on May/7/14; State Rep. John Bel Edwards voted YES; Passed Senate 25-12-2, Vote #1274 on May/21/14; Signed by Gov. Jindal on Jun/1/14
Source: Times-Picayune: Louisiana legislative voting records HB1065
May 7, 2014
Lance Harris:
Require medical school for optometrist eye surgeries
Legislative Summary: HB1065: OPTOMETRISTS: Provides relative to the practice of optometry and the regulation of such professionAnalysis by Times-Picayune: The Legislature agreed to make Louisiana the country's third state
to authorize some eye doctors who did not attend medical school to perform certain surgeries. The controversial legislation authorizes optometrists to perform surgical procedures that are currently limited in this state and 47 others to the practice of
ophthalmology. The bill's supporters say the move expands access to eye care, especially for residents in rural areas. Its opponents call it an effort by optometrists to sideline education and expand their practice to include surgery instead through
legislation in order to charge more money.
Legislative Outcome: Passed House -32-6, Vote #775 66 on May/7/14; State Rep. Lance Harris voted NO; Passed Senate 25-12-2, Vote #1274 on May/21/14; Signed by Gov. Jindal on Jun/1/14
Source: Times-Picayune: Louisiana legislative voting records HB1065
May 7, 2014
Rob Maness:
ObamaCare is hurting the folks it's trying to help
Q: What is the single most important issue in this election?A: The single most important issue of this election so far is the continued effects of the ObamaCare health care law, and its negative effects on the economy in Louisiana.
Q: If you could
sit down face to face with Sen. Landrieu today, what would you tell her?
A: She needs to ask the President of the United States to delete this health care law from our books, because it's hurting the folks that their party said they're trying to help.
Source: ABC News "14 For 14" project: 2014 Louisiana Senate race
Feb 15, 2014
Mary Landrieu:
AdWatch: Promised wrongly that all can keep insurance
The deep-pocketed Americans for Prosperity on Thursday morning unveiled a major ObamaCare air offensive against three Democratic senators up for reelection in November. The group will begin airing 30-second ads this week targeting Sens. Mary Landrieu
(LA), Kay Hagan (NC) and Jeanne Shaheen (NH). The total ad buy is north of $2.5 million and the spots will run for three weeks in each state's major media markets, AFP said.The Landrieu spot ties the Louisiana senator to President Barack
Obama's rhetoric about Americans being able to keep their health care plans under the Affordable Care Act.
In 2013, AFP spent millions on ads targeting Landrieu and Hagan and in 2014 is including Shaheen in its barrage. The Democratic
Senatorial Campaign Committee arm sent out a flurry of fundraising emails as 2013 wound down warning about the spending of groups like AFP, which is backed by the conservative billionaire Koch brothers.
Source: Politico.com AdWatch on 2014 Louisiana Senate race
Jan 2, 2014
Mary Landrieu:
AdWatch: Targeted by RNC robocalls for support of ObamaCare
Sen. Mary Landrieu is among 11 Democrats targeted by the Republican National Committee for their support of ObamaCare. The RNC is using robocalls and posting on Facebook to urge people to call their representatives and ask "why they supported
President Obama's lie that people could keep their healthcare plans under ObamaCare."The targets besides Landrieu are Reps. Gary Peters (MI) and Bruce Braley (IA), Sens. Mark Warner (VA), Mark Begich (AK), Dick Durbin (IL), Kay Hagan (NC), Jeff
Merkley (OR), Mark Pryor (AR), Jeanne Shaheen (NH), and Mark Udall (CO). The robocall script reads:
"President Obama and the Democrats said you could keep your healthcare plan under ObamaCare. Now we know [SENATOR] actually VOTED to make it more
difficult. Call [SENATOR] at (XXX)-XXX-XXX & ask why [he/she] lied."
The robocalls are a response to Democrats launching the "GOP Shutdown Watch" campaign, highlighting Republican senate candidates who supported the partial federal government shutdown.
Source: MI Daily Tribune PacWatch: 2014 Louisiana Senate debate
Nov 5, 2013
Bill Cassidy:
AdWatch: propose ObamaCare-lite plan in state legislature
The Senate Conservatives Fund, which endorsed longshot GOP candidate Rob Maness in the 2014 Louisiana Senate race this week, emailed a fund-raising appeal to its members.
And the Senate Conservatives Fund executive director took a shot at Rep. Bill Cassidy, the establishment GOP candidate for the seat now held by
Democrat Mary Landrieu: "Bill Cassidy has rightly been criticized for his ObamaCare hypocrisy," the group's executive director wrote. "Not only did Cassidy propose an
ObamaCare-lite plan in the state legislature, he's also tried to take credit for federal grants awarded through the ObamaCare program. All of this is making it harder for him to contrast himself with Democrat Mary Landrieu."
Source: AdWatch: NOLA Times-Picayune on 2014 Louisiana Senate debate
Nov 2, 2013
Mary Landrieu:
Let consumers keep health plans, but only if told options
Some negative ads are accusing Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., of inconsistency and worse because she was among those Democrats who voted against the Enzi resolution allowing people to keep their individual plans. But Landrieu said she's adding a requirement,
not included in the Enzi proposal, that insurance companies inform consumers if and how their plans fall short of Affordable Care Act requirements. "Many people may find better plans in the marketplaces that offer superior coverage for them at a good
value and at a potentially lower cost," said Landrieu. "But if people want to keep their current plans, they should be able to do so." About 5 percent of health insurance are individual policies potentially affected by the current controversy.Who is
paying for those negative ads? Americans for Prosperity, a conservative advocacy group that doesn't identify the source of much of its funding, has begun airing a series of ads attacking Landrieu for support of the Affordable Care Act.
Source: AdWatch: NOLA Times-Picayune on 2014 Louisiana Senate debate
Nov 2, 2013
Jeff Landry:
Nationalized care reduces quality and increases costs
I oppose nationalized health care efforts that will reduce the quality of care, lead to rationing, put a bureaucrat between you and your doctor and spend our nation further and further into debt.I do support efforts to allow insurance to be purchased
across state lines, increasing competition. I believe that government mandates to provide service that patients do not want or do not need increase costs.
Better care, lower costs and less government involvement--not more--is my platform.
Source: 2010 House campaign website landryforlouisiana.com, "Issues"
Nov 2, 2010
Charles Melancon:
Supports kids on parents' insurance policies until age 26
Vitter stressed his differences with Melancon on new federal health care law. While Melancon and Vitter both voted against the health care law, Vitter has introduced legislation to repeal it while
Melancon said there are many parts of it he would like to keep, such as the requirement that children be allowed to stay on their parents' insurance policies until age 26.
Melancon made a point to say he opposed the bill initially, but opposed repealing it because of the good things it did, like provide coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.
Source: NOLA.com coverage of 2010 Louisiana Senate debate
Oct 28, 2010
David Vitter:
Introduced legislation to repeal ObamaCare
Vitter stressed his differences with Melancon on new federal health care law. While Melancon and Vitter both voted against the health care law, Vitter has introduced legislation to repeal it while
Melancon said there are many parts of it he would like to keep, such as the requirement that children be allowed to stay on their parents' insurance policies until age 26.
Source: NOLA.com coverage of 2010 Louisiana Senate debate
Oct 28, 2010
Charles Melancon:
Opposed healthcare bill because it didn't work for America
Melancon and Vitter debated on a wide range of topics including the economy and health care. "It's a shame that Mr. Vitter continues to lie about my record, I opposed the health care bill, because the health care bill didn't work for America," said
Melancon.Senator Vitter responded, calling their differing views on health care "a big, honest disagreement between us, I fought 'ObamaCare,' I'm still fighting it," he said.
Source: KATC News coverage of 2010 Louisiana Senate debate
Oct 27, 2010
David Vitter:
I fought ObamaCare & I'm still fighting it
Melancon and Vitter debated on a wide range of topics including the economy and health care. "It's a shame that Mr. Vitter continues to lie about my record, I opposed the health care bill, because the health care bill didn't work for America," said
Melancon.Senator Vitter responded, calling their differing views on health care "a big, honest disagreement between us, I fought 'ObamaCare,' I'm still fighting it," he said.
Source: KATC News coverage of 2010 Louisiana Senate debate
Oct 27, 2010
Charles Melancon:
ObamaCare costs too much & does too little for middle-class
In rare moment of agreement for the two lawmakers, Melancon and Vitter voted against the massive health-care legislation successfully pushed by Obama and the Democratic leadership. Melancon said the plan costs too much and does little for
middle-class Louisiana families.
Vitter likewise opposed the measure, saying it would inject the government into decisions that should be left to doctors and their patients.
Source: Baton Rouge Advocate on of 2010 Louisiana Senate debate
Oct 18, 2010
David Vitter:
ObamaCare injects government into private decisions
In rare moment of agreement for the two lawmakers, Melancon and Vitter voted against the massive health-care legislation successfully pushed by Obama and the Democratic leadership. Melancon said the plan costs too much and does little for
middle-class Louisiana families.
Vitter likewise opposed the measure, saying it would inject the government into decisions that should be left to doctors and their patients.
Source: Baton Rouge Advocate on of 2010 Louisiana Senate debate
Oct 18, 2010
David Vitter:
Pushed to allow re-importation of Rx drugs from Canada
Vitter succeeded in passing an amendment that bars the use of federal funds to stop people from bringing prescription drugs into the country from Canada. In his 2004 campaign, Vitter pledged to push for re-importation, which would allow buying cheaper
drugs from abroad.Vitter also worked across the aisle with Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) to prevent insurance companies from denying women mammograms. A government medical task force recommended that women in their 40s do not routinely need mammograms.
Source: Baton Rouge Advocate on of 2010 Louisiana Senate debate
Oct 18, 2010
David Vitter:
Opposes SCHIP; it subsidizes wealthy states
The SCHIP bill reauthorized the State Children's Health Insurance Program for the next five years, funding it with a 62-cent federal tax on cigarettes. It removed a five-year waiting period, and loosened citizenship requirements.Melancon voted for the
measure, trying to debunk claims by opponents that it would amount to government-run insurance, health care for illegal immigrants or coverage for high-income families. "Making sure children have health insurance is not only the right thing to do, it's
also much more cost-effective for taxpayers than leaving them uninsured and using the emergency room as a primary-care provider," Melancon said.
Vitter opposed the bill, saying it was disproportionately skewed toward states such as New
York, which has higher incomes for eligibility than Louisiana, he said. In New York, the program's cutoff for a family of four is $88,200. Louisiana taxpayers shouldn't subsidize those states, Vitter said. "It just makes no sense to me," he said.
Source: Baton Rouge Advocate on of 2010 Louisiana Senate debate
Oct 18, 2010
Page last updated: Oct 13, 2021