WASHINGTON, D.C. (KELO AM) South Dakota's Kristi Noem helped the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday approve a bill to repeal and replace major parts of Obamacare.
She says it moves forward on a long-held promise made to South Dakotans, increasingly burdened by the Affordable Care Act.
"In South Dakota last year, a hundred percent of plans offered on Healthcare.Gov saw double digit rate increases. Meanwhile the number of providers families have to choose from has fallen to just two." says Noem.
It was a narrow victory in the Republican-controlled House. The vote was 217-213. The legislation faces an uncertain future in the U.S. Senate, even though, it too, is Republican-controlled.
The legislation eliminates both the individual and employer mandates for insurance coverage. It also removes up to $1 billion in taxes that critics say are linked to Obamacare. But the plan maintains many of the more popular features of Obamacare, including pre-existing conditions and allowing young adults to stay on their parent's insurance plans until age 26.
Noem says the vision is to give more control to the states and to individuals.
"Ultimately, I do not believe the federal government should be the decision maker on health care. When programs are necessary, states should be in charge, and in all other cases, it should be you, the patient, who is in the driver’s seat."
It will come as no surprise, that the South Dakota Democratic Party was quick to blister Noem for her vote, claiming it will take health care away from thousands of South Dakotans and raise premiums on others.
"Noem and her fellow Washington Republicans took a bad bill and made it worse, appeasing the most right-wing members of their caucus by editing the bill to allow states to opt out of protecting Americans who have pre-existing conditions like diabetes, asthma, and others."
"The latest version of Rep. Noem's plan also increases the "age tax" found in the original bill, which places a greater financial burden on millions of Americans ages 50 – 64." claimed the party in a Thursday press release, minutes after the vote.