Both the DCCC and the NRCC have wasted no time attacking vulnerable members of Congress over their positions on Health Care. The D-Trip just put out this statement blasting Rep. Chris Gibson for past votes to repeal portions of the existing law.

“Washington politicians like Congressman Chris Gibson are trying to score partisan political points and protect insurance companies instead of protecting the middle class and seniors,” said Jesse Ferguson of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

“Rather than working to create jobs by strengthening the middle class, Congressman Gibson wants to put insurance companies back in charge of health care: taking away critical patient protections, denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions like asthma, heart disease, or cancer and raising prescription drug costs for seniors. This is just the latest proof that Congressman Chris Gibson’s priority is scoring political points and protecting insurance company campaign contributors, not securing health care coverage and strengthening middle class families.”

You may remember that Gibson defeated Democratic Congressman Scott Murphy back in 2010. Murphy had voted for the Affordable Care Act. In a statement today, Gibson said he respected the ruling, but reiterated that he wants to replace the ACA.

“When I ran for Congress in 2010, I heard time and time again from my constituents across New York that we need health care reform, but that the President’s health care bill was not the answer. In addition to multiple tax increases, failing to address rising costs, harming small businesses, and significantly increasing government involvement in health care, this bill stepped on our freedoms,” Gibson said.
“Although the Supreme Court upheld the law by determining that the mandate equates to a tax on every American, it does not change what has become an indisputable reality in the last two years – the ACA is not the solution. We need to enact health care reform that lowers costs and increases access to quality care while protecting our freedoms.”

Gibson is going to face off against Attorney Julien Schreibman in November. Schreibman praised the ruling today, while also going on the offensive.

“Hopefully now Congress can stop playing politics with our healthcare laws, and start focusing on proper implementation and needed improvements so the law can be used how it was intended: to help the American people,” Schreibman said.

“Congressman Chris Gibson was wrong when he voted to allow insurance companies to discriminate against New Yorkers with pre-existing conditions. Instead of going backwards, this Court ruling will allow us to build on these reforms to help reduce the cost of healthcare instead of empowering insurance companies.”

The district leans Republican in enrollment, 141k to 130k, which favors Gibson. But redistricting eliminated more than half of his old district which could create an opening for Democrats.

Share|