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Hogan slams Senate GOP plan to replace Obamacare: ‘Not a solution that works for Maryland’

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September 19, 2017 at 3:04 p.m. EDT
Gov. Larry Hogan (R), at the Maryland State House in Annapolis on April 10, says that the latest health-care proposal in the U.S. Senate “will cost our state over $2 billion annually while directly jeopardizing the health care of our citizens.” (Patrick Semansky/AP)

Gov. Larry Hogan (R) on Tuesday announced his opposition to Senate Republicans’ latest effort to undo the Affordable Care Act.

He said the legislation — being written by Sens. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Dean Heller (R-Nev.) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and known as the Graham-Cassidy bill — would cost Maryland too much money and put residents’ health care at risk.

“Unfortunately, the Graham-Cassidy bill is not a solution that works for Maryland,” Hogan said in a statement. “It will cost our state over $2 billion annually while directly jeopardizing the health care of our citizens.”

Hogan's rejection of the plan is in keeping with his previous opposition to this summer's failed attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which passed the House but died in the Senate.

“We need common-sense, bipartisan solutions that will stabilize markets and actually expand affordable coverage,” the statement said. “It is time for Republicans and Democrats to come together, fix what is so clearly broken, and finally get something done for the American people.”

Would the House pass Graham-Cassidy? It’s not a slam dunk.

Hogan spoke out on the same day that 10 other governors from both parties, including Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) of Virginia, sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) rejecting the plan GOP leaders have embraced.

“As I have said from the start, the Affordable Care Act needs to be fixed,” Hogan said. “I will support any solution — no matter which side of the aisle it comes from — that helps us reach this outcome.”

Hogan’s stance puts him in line with the majority of the Maryland congressional delegation who are Democrats, including Rep. Jamie Raskin (D), who will participate Tuesday night in a forum to discuss Medicaid in Silver Spring.