U.S. Rep. Albio Sires (D-8) and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-32) are both slamming House Republicans after they narrowly advanced a health care bill that would ultimately repeal the Affordable Health Care Act, also known as Obamacare. 
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Once again, House Republicans have introduced misguided and unpopular legislation that would repeal the Affordable Care Act and leave middle class and low-income families without access to affordable health care,” Sires said in a statement.
“This plan strips away the most popular protections under the Affordable Care Act, defunds Planned Parenthood, destroys Medicaid, and harms those who need coverage the most.”
Sires, who voted against the measure, also noted that it would potentially allow states to charge higher premiums for pre-existing conditions, opt out of providing coverage for maternity care, hospital visits and health care services.
Prieto was even more critical with his remarks, calling the vote “cruel” and “heartless” that was done merely for political reasons.
“This was a cruel vote by a heartless Republican majority intent on harming Americans for the sake of political talking points,” Prieto said in a separate statement.
“America was built on the idea of progress. Allowing states to waive protections for those with pre-existing conditions is not progress. Allowing insurers to increase costs for senior citizens is not progress. Phasing out Medicaid expansion is not progress. Taking away health insurance from a half-million New Jerseyans is not progress.”
The Assembly speaker also expressed astonishment that the bill cleared the House, by a vote of 217 to 213, expressing hope that the U.S. Senate will yield a different result.
