Mike Castle: Pro-Repeal?
Mike Castle held a fundraiser with pro-repeal Republican Senator Orrin Hatch. The Republican discipline on health care reform is starting to disappear though. Some Republicans like Mitt Romeny (who is having trouble explaining why the MA individual mandate is o.k. but the national mandate is not), Rep. Mike Pence and Sen. Jim DeMint want a complete repeal. Other Republicans just want to repeal part of it. And in a move that we didn’t see coming, but should have, Chuck Grassley is now trying to take credit for the bill. Grassley has obviously been reading from Castle’s playbook.
The DSCC and the Delaware Democratic Party are asking the obvious question: Mike Castle where do you stand?
“Republicans in Washington want their Senate candidates to run on the repeal of health care reform, and many like Mark Kirk, Kelly Ayotte, and Trey Greyson have succumbed to the pressure from the establishment,” said Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Communications Director Eric Schultz. “Others, like Mike Castle, Jane Norton, and John Boozman have dodged the question. We believe that every Republican should be clear on if they would support the repeal of health care reform if elected to the Senate. If Mike Castle is going to look voters in the eye and pledge to repeal health care reform which will have afforded coverage to 109,000 Delawareans, eliminated the doughnut hole for seniors, offered tax credits to small businesses, lowered the deficit, and ended appalling insurance practices – then good luck to him.”
“Castle has already shown he is completely beholden to his caucus, with votes to defeat this health reform bill, the recovery act, and even a recent bill to bring more jobs to Delaware,” said Katie Ellis, Communications Director for the Delaware Democratic Party. “Now that key members of his caucus have vowed to repeal the bill, will Castle stand with them or middle-class Delawareans? Delaware voters have a right to know Castle’s position on this issue.”
Of course, it shouldn’t really be a question. Mike Castle voted against the health care reform bill, just like every other Republican in Congress. For a reminder, take a look at what a repeal would do:
Seniors
– An immediate $250 rebate for the roughly 24,800 Delaware seniors who will hit the Medicare Part D ‘donut hole’ would be revoked
– 140,000 seniors will see higher Medicare premiums and have to pay more for preventive health careState Budget
– $1.12 billion in affordability tax credits to 69,400 Delawareans would be forfeited*
– $395 million in federal Medicaid funding would be lost*Small Businesses
– 10,500 small businesses will not get tax credits to help them afford coverage for their employees this year.
Individuals
– Insurance companies will continue to deny coverage to the estimated 11,006 Delawareans with pre-existing conditions
– Family insurance premiums would increase by $1,720-2$,450**Children & Young Adults
– Insurance companies will still be able to deny coverage to children with pre-existing conditions
– 83,010 young adults who would have been able to stay on their parents’ insurance plans this year would now be denied coverage
[Ed note: edited for clarity 9:51 AM]
Tags: DE-Sen, Health Care Reform, Mike Castle, Republican Crazy
According the the NEWS JOURNAL story this morning (3/25), Castle does not support repeal of the health care law because it is unrealistic to attempt repeal while President Obama is in office. Castle did not vote for the health care bill in the House of Representatives, criticized it, and continues to stand in opposition to it. His objection to repeal is pragmatic. In effect, he awaits a Republican presidency in order to repeal the law.
In effect, he awaits
a Republican presidencyhis retirement in order to repeal the law.Very timely – The News Journal:
Waste ‘n’ fraud!
That was a pretty clever evasion but he didn’t answer the question. He said he doesn’t think repeal is possible or that he’d cosponsor a repeal bill. He doesn’t say whether he would vote for repeal.
So Mike Castle is pro-repeal. How nice. We are making the ads now.
Oh, no please don’t throw me into the brier patch. Please don’t make ads calling our guy pro-repeal.
So he will be for repeal when there is a Republican President and Congress. At a point in time where he won’t even be in Congress anymore, right?
I can see the ads now:
Mike Castle loves pre-existing condition exclusions!
Mike Castle thinks it’s great if insurance companies drop you when you get sick!
Mike Castle loves medical bankruptcy – because you should work even when you’re sick you lazy bum!
So, Republican David is now calling Castle “our guy?” Did O’Donnell get thrown over? I thought her tax liens were supposed to appeal to the voters?
Looks like the National Republican Senatorial Committee wants to throw Chris Coons into that brier patch:
http://www.nrsc.org/chris-coons-endorses-costly-contentious-health-care-bill
I am glad Chris announced his support for it. Who knows what the he** Castle is attempting to do….How does the NRSC think this is making the case to Delawareans to vote for their candidate?
I think Castle is trying to be all things to all people in his statements, that’s why it’s such a mush.
…and why not? 538.com has him at 92% chance to win. All he has to do is glide into the Senate since Coons refuse to campaign.
Mike Castle’s silence on the Republican threats of violence is shameful. At least all Republicans are not as cowardly. Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX), said that Palin’s reload map is “inappropriate”
It is a start, I guess.