The only truth that Senator Russ Feingold told regarding ObamaCare was his admission that he cast the deciding vote to pass it.
"Not only was I the deciding vote for the health care bill…"
[youtube url = "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBXMI_EkYkY&feature=youtu.be"]
Yet, apart from that one stunning moment of candor, Senator Feingold broke his promises on ObamaCare.
In 2010, just before he was fired, Senator Feingold predicted that ObamaCare was going to look "pretty damn good" and promised that it would lower premiums. Hardworking Wisconsinites, saddled with $1.8 billion additional taxes from Obamacare over the next 10-years, might beg to differ.
Feingold also deceived Wisconsinites by falsely claiming that if they liked their current plan, they were "free to keep it."
FLASHBACK:
PolitiFact’s 2013 Lie of the Year: ‘If you like your health care plan, you can keep it’
As Senator Johnson explains in his recent Milwaukee Journal Sentinel op-ed, major insurers in Wisconsin have either gone out of business or cut back because of ObamaCare:
"Earlier this year, Milwaukee-based Assurant Health, a leader in individual insurance plans, blamed Obamacare as it went out of business. Anthem Blue Cross will no longer sell plans on the Obamacare exchange in Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha counties. The largest U.S. health insurer, UnitedHealth Group, just announced it’s considering withdrawing from Obamacare exchanges nationwide."
Fortunately, Wisconsinites sent Johnson – the citizen legislator, to the Senate to clean up Russ Feingold’s disastrous mess and repeal the worst provisions of ObamaCare.
Unlike Senator Feingold, Ron Johnson is leading the fight to restore the promises made to the American people.
Just this afternoon, the Senate considered Ron Johnson’s amendment to ensure that individuals can keep the health insurance coverage taken away by Senator Russ Feingold’s 2009 deciding ObamaCare vote.
If Russ Feingold liked his job as a 28-year career politician, he shouldn’t have broken his promises and burdened Wisconsinites with ObamaCare.
BACKGROUND:
In December 2009, Feingold Cast The Deciding Vote To Pass ObamaCare
In December 2009, Feingold Voted To Pass ObamaCare. “Passage of the bill, as amended, that would overhaul the nation’s health insurance system and require most individuals to buy health insurance by 2014. It would create a system of national private insurance plans supervised by the Office of Personnel Management and create state-run marketplaces for purchasing health insurance. Those that do not obtain coverage would be subject to an excise tax. Excluded from the mandate would be those exempt from filing income tax and others with a hardship waiver, religious objection or those who cannot afford coverage. Employers with 50 or more workers would have to provide coverage or pay a fine if any employee gets a subsidized plan on the exchange. The bill would provide tax credits to certain small businesses for providing coverage and provide subsidies to individuals making up to four times the federal poverty level, excluding illegal immigrants. It would bar the use of federal funds to pay for abortions in the new programs created under the bill, except in the cases of rape, incest or if the woman’s life is in danger. It would bar insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing medical conditions beginning in 2014, and also bar them from dropping coverage of people who become ill. It would expand eligibility for Medicaid, shrink the coverage gap under the Medicare Part D prescription drug program and create an advisory board to reduce the per capita growth rate in Medicare spending.” (H.R. 3590, CQ Vote #396: Passed 60-39: R 0-39; D 58-0; I 2-0, 12/24/09, Feingold Voted Yea)
- Feingold Provided The 60th, And Deciding, Vote To Invoke Cloture On ObamaCare. (H.R. 3590, CQ Vote #395: Motion agreed to 60-39: R 0-39; D 58-0; I 2-0, 12/23/09, Feingold Voted Yea)
- Feingold Admitted He Was “The Deciding Vote. FEINGOLD: “Not only was I the deciding vote for the health care bill…” (Russ Feingold, Senate Debate, 10/22/10; 51:15)
In March 2010, Feingold Voted To Pass ObamaCare Reconciliation Bill. (H.R. 4872, CQ Vote #105: Passed 56-43: R 0-40; D 54-3; I 2-0, 3/25/10, Feingold Voted Yea)
In 2010, Feingold Said ObamaCare “Going To Look Pretty Damn Good In Two Years”
In 2010, Feingold Said ObamaCare Was “Going To Look Pretty Damn Good In Two Years.” “Feingold calls public opposition to health care legislation the result of ‘an intentional effort to destroy the Obama presidency,’ and he’s convinced it can’t last. The law is ‘going to look pretty damn good in two years,’ Feingold told a sympathetic roundtable of a dozen women Friday morning.” (Ben Smith, “Russ Feingold’s Last Stand,” Politico, 10/31/10)
In 2010, Feingold Promised “If You Like Your Current Plan, You Are Free To Keep It”
Feingold’s 2010 Senate Campaign Website Promised “You Will Be Allowed To See The Doctor Of Your Choice And, If You Like Your Current Plan, You Are Free To Keep It.” “Consumer Choice: You will be allowed to see the doctor of your choice and, if you like your current plan, you are free to keep it. Members of Congress and their office staff are required to purchase their health care through the bill that was passed.” (Feingold For Senate 2010 Website via Internet Archive, www.russfeingold.org, Cache Date 10/28/10)
Feingold Promised ObamaCare Would Lower Premiums
In March 2010, Feingold Said The Days Of His Constituents Being “Forced To Pay Through The Nose For Skyrocketing Premiums” Were “Coming To An End Thanks To The Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act.” FEINGOLD: “Madam President, for far too long, my constituents have been at the mercy of the health insurance industry which has dictated how and whether they get health care coverage. Wisconsinites have been denied coverage because of preexisting conditions, dropped from coverage because they made too many claims, or simply forced to pay through the nose for skyrocketing premiums . Those days are now coming to an end thanks to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.” (Sen. Russ Feingold, Congressional Record, 3/24/10, p. S1962)