2014 MI Senate debate: on Health Care

Mike Bishop: Replace ObamaCare with patient-centered reforms

Bishop: Strongly Disagree.

Q: Should ObamaCare be repealed by Congress?

Bishop: Strongly Agree. The number one concern on the minds of families and businesses in the district is the rising cost of healthcare. We need to work on reforms that will make healthcare affordable and accessible, and not by mandating a government-managed marketplace. We need to repeal ObamaCare and replace it with patient-centered reforms.

Terri Lynn Land: Pre-tax health savings accounts & cross-states insurers

The former Michigan secretary of state said she opposes forcing people to have insurance under the law but also supports parts of the measure such as keeping intact protections for people with pre-existing conditions and requiring hospitals to publish a list of their standard charges. "There has to be a better way," Land said in a statement released in conjunction with putting the proposed principles for "real healthcare reform" on her campaign website. "I favor a different approach."

Terri Lynn Land: Fix ObamaCare so Michiganders can keep insurance as promised

Asked directly whether she no longer supported repealing ObamaCare, Land responded that her previous support for defunding ObamaCare "was a way to get the conversation going."

"We're past this now," she said. "We need to now fix this," referring to the Upton bill. "I supported defunding the ObamaCare law when that was an option. President Obama and Congressman Peters promised that Michiganders could keep their insurance and their promise has been broken. I support the Upton bill to fix ObamaCare in the short term if that is what it takes to stop 225,000 people in Michigan from losing their insurance. Washington is broken and we need leaders who are ready to make the tough decisions."

Gary Peters: AdWatch: Targeted by RNC robocalls for support of ObamaCare

The targets besides Peters are Rep. Bruce Braley (IA), Sens. Mark Warner (VA), Mark Begich (AK), Dick Durbin (IL), Kay Hagan (NC), Mary Landrieu (LA), Jeff Merkley (OR), Mark Pryor (AR), Jeanne Shaheen (NH), and Mark Udall (CO). The robocall script reads:

"President Obama and the Democrats said you could keep your healthcare plan under ObamaCare. Now we know [SENATOR] actually VOTED to make it more difficult. Call [SENATOR] at (XXX)-XXX-XXX & ask why [he/she] lied."

The robocalls are a response to Democrats launching the "GOP Shutdown Watch" campaign, highlighting Republican senate candidates who supported the partial federal government shutdown.

Terri Lynn Land: Embrace threat of federal shutdown to defund ObamaCare

Others to embrace the plan include former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel (R), former Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land (R), who is the likely Republican nominee to run for retiring Sen. Carl Levin's (R-Mich.) seat, and Alaska Tea Party candidate Joe Miller (R).

GOP operatives say there's little downside for candidates to embrace the "defund" movement--especially those who are facing primary opponents. For Senate candidates who aren't already in Congress, especially, there's little political danger.