U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) voted Sept. 20 against H.J.Res.59, the 2014 Continuing Resolution (CR) which permanently defunds health care reform just as millions of Americans are set to begin signing up for coverage under the Affordable Care Act.Delete - Merge Up

“This is a self-inflicted wound which would stall the economy and turn back the clock on health care reform,” said Kind. “It is beyond irresponsible for House Republicans to engage in political brinksmanship by threatening to shut down the federal government in order to achieve their ideological goals, when we should be focused on creating new jobs and building the middle class. Our country cannot afford another GOP-manufactured crisis; we risk becoming a deadbeat nation that doesn’t fulfill its obligations.”

The CR maintains the GOP sequester cuts, threatening up to 1.6 million jobs next year and continuing cuts to essential programs like Head Start, Meals on Wheels and job training programs. It also prioritizes payments to Treasury bonds, 47 percent of which are foreign-owned by countries like China which leaves funding designed to help active-duty troops, disabled veterans and students behind.

The Continuing Resolution also marks the 42nd time that the Republican majority has voted to repeal or undermine the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and actually aims to repeal all benefits for Americans under the health care reform law.   As a result, insurance companies could deny coverage for millions of people with pre-existing conditions, consumers could be dropped from coverage when they get sick, and young adults up to 26 would lose the option of staying on a parent’s plan.

“The ideological wing of the House majority is doing everything it can to keep uninsured Americans from getting the coverage they need under the Affordable Care Act,” continued  Kind. “To connect the funding of the federal government with yet another vote to defund the Affordable Care Act is just more proof that the House majority is more interested in playing political games than it is in creating jobs and strengthening the middle class.”