© 2024 WBGO
Discover Jazz...Anywhere, Anytime, on Any Device.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Top Demcrats In NJ Relieved GOP Health Plan Failed

Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Vinnie Prieto
Phil Gregory

Leading Democrats in the New Jersey legislature are thankful that Republicans in Congress were unable to muster the votes on a plan to replace the Affordable Care Act.

Assembly Speaker Vinnie Prieto is relieved there won't be a change in federal funding for Medicaid.

"It's a great win for New Jersey. 500,000 residents have taken advantage of Medicaid expansion. Those people would have lost coverage. We couldn't afford to keep that. The state would have had to pick up the slack if they wanted to."

Senate President Steve Sweeney agrees that not changing Medicaid is good news for New Jersey.

"It's critically important. You know Trumpcare would have bankrupt states. You're talking billions of dollars coming out of states that they couldn't afford. Besides it's just being inhumane.”