SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO-AM) -- Though it may be the "old school" way of trying to influence the media and the public, all the players in the U.S.Senate health care debate weighed in on Tuesday's Senate votes.
Here's how the battle played out in press releases Tuesday.
First, from Republican U.S. Senator John Thune:
Thune: Senate Must Complete Work to Repeal Obamacare
“It’s time for us to complete the work the American people sent us to do: repeal and replace this failing law with the affordable, patient-centered health care solutions Americans deserve.”
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement after the Senate agreed to move forward on legislation to repeal the failing Obamacare law:
“For seven years, we’ve watched the bad Obamacare news pile up, from lost health care plans to soaring premiums and dwindling choices. Americans all across the country are suffering under Obamacare’s failures, and they deserve relief. Today Senate Republicans took an important step forward toward fixing the problems Obamacare has created. It’s time for us to complete the work the American people sent us to do: repeal and replace this failing law with the affordable, patient-centered health care solutions Americans deserve.”
Next, from Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds:
Rounds Statement on Vote to Begin Debate on Obamacare Repeal and Replace Legislation
WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today made the following statement after voting to begin debate on legislation to repeal and replace Obamacare:
“While this process will take several weeks, today’s vote to begin debate on legislation to repeal and replace Obamacare is an important first step as we work tostabilize the insurance markets and prevent premiums from continuing to skyrocket for South Dakota families. The American people deserve better than the failing Obamacare disaster that has forced millions off the health care plans they enjoyed, driven up the cost of health care – 124 percent for South Dakotans in just the past four years – and caused providers to leave the marketplace in droves. We now have a real opportunity to provide relief to American families who were left with fewer choices and higher costs under Obamacare.”
Finally, from the South Dakota Democratic Party:
Rounds and Thune Vote to Advance GOP Effort to Take Health Care Away from Millions
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The South Dakota Democratic Party released the following statement from Executive Director Sam Parkinson responding to Senators Mike Rounds and John Thune joining 48 other Senate Republicans and Vice President Pence in voting to advance efforts to take health care away from millions of Americans:
"Whatever Mike Rounds and John Thune say in defense of their votes today to advance the Republican effort to take health care away from tens of millions of Americans - including tens of thousands of South Dakotans - they cannot escape the plain fact that these votes are indefensible. They and their fellow GOP senators, along with the Vice President, voted to hurt South Dakota families who are working hard to afford health care. They voted to kick millions of people off their health insurance and force older, sicker, disabled, and low-income Americans to pay more for less care. They voted to leave South Dakotans facing death because they cannot afford the care needed to keep them alive. The people of South Dakota will remember the Republican Party's attack on their health and economic security in 2018 and will hold Senators Rounds and Thune accountable for their indefensible votes when they are up for re-election."