Washington, DC - Health Care for America Now (HCAN), the nation's leading grassroots health care advocacy organization, released the following statement from HCAN Executive Director Ethan Rome on Rep. Denny Rehberg's (R-MT) proposal that the Super Committee eliminate the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion and subsidies to help consumers buy insurance:

"Rep. Rehberg's proposal is yet another part of the Republican assault on the middle class. Denny Rehberg says that basic health care is a luxury item, as if a mother in Montana taking her children to the doctor or a cancer patient getting treatment is the same as buying ‘an expensive vacation home.'

"Any cuts to these essential programs would endanger the health of our parents, kids and neighbors, put the livelihoods of hardworking Americans at risk and hurt small businesses. Montana needs leaders who will create jobs, not take a meat ax to their communities.

"What Rehberg wants to do would devastate families and businesses in rural areas, where consumers pay more for health insurance and receive less care. Rehberg would stifle entrepreneurs trying to start new businesses and create jobs. Denny Rehberg has the wrong priorities.

"The only way the Super Committee can pass a rational, balanced plan is to ask corporations and the super-rich to pay their fair share of taxes, not to cut health care for kids, seniors and working families. Instead of asking the top 1% of taxpayers to pitch in and support their country, Rehberg wants to take health care away from the other 99% and make it harder for small businesses to survive. It's time for Denny Rehberg to stop siding with insurance and drug companies and other big corporations and do what's right for Montana and the nation."

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Health Care for America Now is the nation's leading grassroots health care advocacy organization. HCAN led the fight over the past two years to win passage of health reform and to keep Congress from being steamrolled by corporate special interests.

For Immediate Release - OCTOBER 6, 2011
Contact: Avram Goldstein 202-587-1634
agoldstein@healthcareforamericanow.org