Markell says health care reform about ‘real people’

Gov. Jack Markell says repealing the new health care law would negatively impact Delaware’s economy, businesses and residents.

“This is not about politics,” Markell said in a conference call Tuesday regarding an expected vote by the US House of Representatives to repeal the Affordable Care Act. “It’s about real people.”

Delayed after the mass shooting in Tucson, Ariz., the vote is now expected Wednesday.

But the bill would almost certainly die in the Senate where Democrats still hold the majority. And President Barack Obama would likely veto the measure if it got as far as the White House.

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Markell says abolishing the health care law would have harmful consequences for college students, recent graduates, parents of vulnerable children and Delaware employers.

“What we hear over and over (from employers),” Markell said, “is that the rapidly rising costs of health care are an impediment to their ability to grow.”

Markell was joined in the conference call by Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley.  The Obama White House arranged the conference call to coinicide with the first day of debate in the U.S. House.  The new Republican majority wants to pass a repeal bill. 

The governor said he also hears from people who are “frankly, stuck in a broken system with rapidly rising costs.

“People who are afraid to leave jobs, people who otherwise would start small businesses but they can’t because they’re not sure if they can get coverage somewhere else,” he said.

To hear all of Markell’s comments, click the audio link.

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