QUICK CLIP: Ken Block Once Again Opposes the Affordable Care Act

QUICK CLIP: Ken Block Once Again Opposes the Affordable Care Act

The Affordable Care Act ensures that 460,000 Rhode Islanders with pre-existing conditions can get health coverage, helps thousands of seniors afford prescription drugs, and provides tens of thousands of Rhode Islanders with health care.

And Ken Block opposes it.

At this week's WPRO debate, Block was directly asked if he supported the Affordable Care Act? His answer was a flat out no.

It's no surprise from Block. During his 2014 run for governor, he called the Affordable Care Act, "a horrible bill, ill-conceived, unilaterally passed by one party, and terribly implemented."

Now at a time when Donald Trump's budget law has raised the costs of getting a plan on the ACA, Block is doubling down on his opposition. He joins GOP nominee Aaron Guckian in backing an agenda that is making health care more expensive and less accessible for Rhode Islanders.

"Just like Donald Trump and DC Republicans, Ken Block wants to scrap the Affordable Care Act, take away health care from hardworking Rhode Islanders, and end protections for pre-existing conditions," said DGA spokesperson Kevin Donohoe. "Ken Block and Aaron Guckian have the same position: strip away Rhode Islanders' health care while jacking up their prices. Helena Foulkes is the only candidate in this race who will fight back against Trump's attacks on the Affordable Care Act and expand access to affordable, quality health care."

Watch the clip below:

Transcript:

Foulkes: But finally, I'll say I, I believe I'm the only person here who was a supporter of the Affordable Care Act, that has done a huge service to Americans in terms of having coverage. The Trump administration is cutting this off. I really hope that the Democrats win back control of both the House and the Senate this fall because that will make a big change in overturning the Big Beautiful Bill, so-called. Because next winter we're at risk of 40,000 Rhode Islanders losing access to their Medicaid because of what the Trump administration is doing.

Bill Bartholomew: Just five seconds, Mr. Block. ACA: support or oppose?

Ken Block: Yeah. When the ACA, when the ACA came out, I was a small business owner, and my rates jumped through the roof. They have kept on going, and as somebody who has to buy health insurance for myself, it's up to about $44,000 a year right now. I was opposed to it simply because of the cost, and now health insurance has become so unbelievably unaffordable. I don't know what anybody can do to afford it at this point. It's a big problem.

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