Mitch McConnell on Health Care Republican Sr Senator (KY)

90% of the people in hospitals are unvaccinated

ObamaCare: the so-called cure worse than the disease

My goal was clear from the beginning: because this was the worst bill to come across my desk in nearly 3 decades I'd served in the Senate, and because this was not anything like the bill we would have enacted, I didn't want a single Republican to vote for it. It had to be very obvious to the voters which party was responsible for this terrible bill, and I wanted a clear line of demarcation, they were for this and we were against it.

ObamaCare's Kynect is a state decision, but yeah, it's ok

McConnell also disputed the idea that Beshear's program has covered 500,000 more people, arguing that many of them are now paying more for lower-quality coverage. Democrats pounced, with Beshear saying in a post-debate statement: "Tonight, Mitch McConnell looked into the camera and misled Kentucky about his plan to take Kynect from more than 500,000 Kentuckians who have gained health care in the last year."

ObamaCare is a train wreck; do what we can to repeal it

McCONNELL: Well, I certainly agree with Senator Cruz that ObamaCare is indeed a train wreck. People--even if they could access the website--can't get quotes. Even those who may be fortunate enough to sign up are going to find that the premiums are higher and the choices are fewer. One thing that all Republicans agreed on back in 2009 is that we thought ObamaCare was a terrible mistake for the country. We still think that, and we're going to do everything we can in the future to try to repeal it. But that requires a Republican Senate and a different president. We have a math problem in the Senate in getting rid of ObamaCare: 55 Democrats and 45 Republicans. I'd like to have 51.

$10B paid by tobacco companies, but no federal regulation

Responding to later criticism, McConnell defended his work on behalf of KY's tobacco industry: "I felt vindicated." He noted that getting any buyout "is a legislative miracle. I secured $328 million in Tobacco Loan Assistance Payments for growers in 1999--the 1st such payment for tobacco growers in history. And I secured the $10 billion buyout, ensuring tobacco farmers' economic security even as many choose to retire from tobacco farming. I'm proud of my record and I stand by it."

2007: Expand SCHIP with "Kids First" bill

Bush vetoed two SCHIP bills; McConnell was understandably happy when SCHIP was finally continued on its current terms.

2000 McConnell Miracle: $700M for Kentucky tobacco farmers

Rated 0% by APHA, indicating a anti-public health voting record.

The American Public Health Association (APHA) is the oldest and largest organization of public health professionals in the world, representing more than 50,000 members from over 50 occupations of public health. APHA is concerned with a broad set of issues affecting personal and environmental health, including federal and state funding for health programs, pollution control, programs and policies related to chronic and infectious diseases, a smoke-free society, and professional education in public health.

The following ratings are based on the votes the organization considered most important; the numbers reflect the percentage of time the representative voted the organization`s preferred position.

Establish a national childhood cancer database.

Conquer Childhood Cancer Act of 2007 - A bill to advance medical research and treatments into pediatric cancers, ensure patients and families have access to the current treatments and information regarding pediatric cancers, establish a population-based national childhood cancer database, and promote public awareness of pediatric cancers.

Authorizes the Secretary to award grants to childhood cancer professional and direct service organizations for the expansion and widespread implementation of:
1. activities that provide information on treatment protocols to ensure early access to the best available therapies and clinical trials for pediatric cancers;
2. activities that provide available information on the late effects of pediatric cancer treatment to ensure access to necessary long-term medical and psychological care; and
3. direct resource services such as educational outreach for parents, information on school reentry and postsecondary education, and resource directories or referral services for financial assistance, psychological counseling, and other support services.

Support enhanced health insurance marketplace pooling.

A bill to amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the Public Health Service Act to provide for enhanced health insurance marketplace pooling and relating market rating.

Small Business Health Plans Act of 2008 -
• Amends ERISA to provide for the establishment and governance of small business health plans, which are group health plans sponsored by trade, industry, professional, chamber of commerce, or similar business associations.
• Apply the rules and standards of this Act to Alternative Market Pooling Organizations, such as unions, churches, and other groups; and
• Consult with the domicile state regarding the exercise of authority over such plans. Allows other existing plans to be treated as small business health plans under certain circumstances.