"This vote is personal" - EL Candidates Stand Up for Obamacare & Women's Health

When Tammy Baldwin was 9 years old, she contracted a serious childhood illness. She spent three months in a hospital recovering. When her family found out their insurance wouldn’t cover her care, what started out as an emotionally draining situation became financially draining as well. After Tammy recovered, her family still couldn’t find insurance. She became one of “those children” with pre-existing conditions, of which there are millions across the country.

“This vote is personal,” Tammy said on the House floor yesterday. “Health care is personal.”        

EMILY’s List candidates understand that the healthcare debate is about real people, not just numbers, and they made that clear in thier speeches on the House floor.

Suzanne Bonamici, who EMILY's List helped elect, said Congress was wasting its time with the vote to repeal, especially because Obamacare will help so many Americans.

“The repeal bill we are about to vote on isn't going to go anywhere, and we all know that. It won't pass the Senate, and it won't be signed into law. We could be doing real things to help Americans and the economy right now. Yet here we are, for the 31st time, voting on the same thing,” she said.

Lois Capps, a nurse and currently endorsed candidate, said Obamacare will help women and their families across the country, especially families with children who have pre-existing conditions.

Jan Schakowsky, another EMILY’s List-er, said she knew people had heard that Obamacare was a bad thing over and over again. “But now that the Supreme Court has declared it the law of the land, I hope that everyone will take another look and see what's actually in the law and how it can help you,” she said.

Jan’s son, a small business owner in Chicago, told her “thank you” after Obamacare passed because 35% of the cost of coverage of his employees is covered.

“For the first time in the United States of America, we say that health care is a right and not just a privilege for those people who can afford it.”         

EMILY’s List candidates never stop fighting for women. Obamacare will help women nationwide, and our women are proud to stand up for it.