DNC Slams Derrick Van Orden for Flip-Flopping on Protecting Wisconsinites with Preexisting Conditions Arrow

Today, vulnerable Wisconsin Republican Derrick Van Orden endorsed Donald Trump's health care "plan," despite the fact that the proposal does not account for people with preexisting conditions. Wisconsinites are raising the alarm about Van Orden's support for the "plan" since his website claims that he will "make sure individuals with preexisting conditions are protected." About half of Americans say someone in their household has a preexisting condition.

Van Orden's flip-flop today is standard for his spinelessness. He voted for Trump's Big Ugly Bill, which kicks over 100,000 Wisconsinites off their health care and puts three rural hospitals on the brink of closure. Because Van Orden also voted against extending life-saving enhanced ACA health care credits before they expired, 270,000 Wisconsinites are seeing their health care premiums skyrocket. Van Orden also supports repealing the Affordable Care Act and ripping away health care from the over 300,000 Wisconsinites who depend on it.

A reminder: The vast majority - 64% - of Americans oppose Trump's Big Ugly Bill and health care cuts, including 71% of independents.

In response to Van Orden's flip-flopping, DNC Deputy Communications Director Abhi Rahman released the following statement:

"D.C. Derrick Van Orden is just another spineless Republican who is willing to sell out the most vulnerable Wisconsinites if it means cozying up to Donald Trump and his billionaire donors. It's no surprise that today, Van Orden heartedly endorsed Trump's health care 'plan' that puts Wisconsinites with preexisting conditions on the chopping block, given the fact that he already voted to kick over 100,000 Wisconsinites off their health insurance and raise premiums for 270,000 families in the state. This is classic D.C. Derrick: He says one thing to get elected and then, once Donald Trump comes calling, does the opposite. Unlike Van Orden, Democrats will keep fighting to lower costs for Wisconsinites and protect their health care."

Trump's "Great Healthcare Plan" does nothing to substantively bring down health care costs. His plan is unlikely to meaningfully lower drug prices, and his direct cash payments meant for Americans to purchase health care would fail to lower health care costs and could send the ACA into a "death spiral." His own administration officials have questioned whether Trump's plan to send money directly to Americans for health care was "sustainable."

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