Democratic congressional candidate Dana Balter is using a Texas court case to highlight what she claims is complicity by her opponent, Rep. John Katko (R-Camillus), in the dismantling of the Affordable Care Act.
A federal judge in Texas this month heard arguments to suspend the Affordable Care Act. Balter, who is hoping to unseat Katko in the race for the 24th Congressional District, said this case grew directly out of the tax bill approved by Congress last year. Katko voted for the legislation that eliminated the individual mandate, the penalty levied for not having health insurance.
"If it weren’t for that provision in the tax bill, this case wouldn’t be happening," Balter said during a news conference last week. "So John Katko’s vote on that tax bill didn’t only wreak havoc on our tax system, it devastated our health care system, and put millions and millions of people in this country at risk, and hundreds of thousands of people in this district at risk.”
Balter argues that Republicans' attempt to dismantle the ACA, also known as Obamacare, is the reason insurance companies are asking for rate increases this fall. She also said she’s concerned about individuals with pre-existing conditions losing coverage. Balter said she supports Medicare for all, and in the meantime, she believes Congress should protect and shore up the ACA.
Katko's campaign did not respond to requests for comment for this story.