Another Moderate Comes Out Against The GOP Obamacare Repeal Bill

U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Ohio, speaks at a GOP Get Out the Vote rally in Independence, Ohio Monday, Sept. 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)
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Another moderate Republican, Rep. David Joyce (R-OH), came out against the bill to repeal and replace Obamacare on Friday afternoon, just a few hours before the House was set to vote on the legislation.

“My prior votes to repeal all or parts of Obamacare underscore what I have long argued – we need a better healthcare system,” he said in a statement. “After listening to constituents, business leaders and medical professionals throughout my district, I came to the conclusion the American Health Care Act was not a better solution.”

Joyce cited concerns about his constituents on Medicare, saying he would have preferred a more “transparent” process.

“I’m eager to support legislation that doesn’t reduce funding in the Medicare trust fund and actually helps lower healthcare costs for the more than 465,000 people in my district who obtain their health insurance via their employer,” he said in the statement. “Those individuals, who make up 65 percent of the district, have seen nothing but higher premiums, higher deductibles, and higher co-pays. We need to find solutions to help them and their families. The middle class cannot keep bearing the brunt of everything.”

“I also want a process that is more deliberate, open and transparent, and that is focused actually on the doctor-patient relationship and lowering costs for everyone,” the statement continued.

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