SB with Klein in Columbus

COLUMBUS, OH – Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein joined central Ohioans to speak out against ongoing efforts by the Trump Administration to sabotage the Affordable Care Act and throw millions of Americans off their health insurance. In March, the Trump Administration told a federal court that it now supports invalidating the Affordable Care Act in its entirety and the President recently expressed support for a renewed effort to repeal ACA. 

“President Trump is playing political games with Ohioans’ healthcare, and his White House is now threatening the coverage of nearly five million Ohioans with preexisting conditions,” said Brown. “We can’t fight back without Ohioans making their voices heard and sharing their stories. That’s why all the efforts to take away these protections have failed before.” 

“Since we first filed our lawsuit against the Trump Administration for their premeditated and intentional sabotage of the Affordable Care Act, the resulting damage has only gotten worse,” said City Attorney Zach Klein. “Already, more of our fellow Americans are uninsured, and millions are facing higher and higher premiums.  These dire circumstances underscore how important it is that we continue to fight for quality, affordable health care for all of our neighbors.”   

Susan Halpern, a small business owner from Columbus who relies on the Affordable Care Act, joined Brown and Klein to speak about the importance of the healthcare law, especially for individuals with pre-existing conditions. Halpern is a breast cancer survivor who struggled to secure health insurance prior to enactment of the Affordable Care Act. 

“As a breast cancer survivor and self-employed small business owner here in Ohio, I depend on the ACA for my healthcare. As one of the 102 million plus Americans with a preexisting condition, I am very aware that without the ACA I would not be able to purchase health insurance for any price. Even though my cancer has been in complete remission for over 12 years I would still be uninsurable, as would many millions of other Americans, through no fault of their own, if the ACA is not upheld,” said Ms. Halpern. 

Brown and Klein have led efforts to stand up for Ohioans’ healthcare. 

Brown has joined Ohio patients and patient advocates in cities around Ohio to underscore the importance of the Affordable Care Act and recently introduced legislation to make improvements to the Affordable Care Act by adding a public option to the individual marketplaces. 

Last August, City Attorney Klein and the City of Columbus led a lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court of Maryland, against the Trump Administration for violating the ‘take care’ clause of the U.S. Constitution as the Administration works to sabotage the Affordable Care Act.  The city of Cincinnati and cities across the country also joined the lawsuit. 

Brown and Klein both underscored their commitment to fighting efforts in Washington and Columbus to attack the Affordable Care Act and continuing their work to ensure Ohioans have access to affordable, quality health insurance. 

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