MORRIS COUNTY — Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-11, on Friday, March 24 called the current Republican health-care bill unacceptable.
His decision to vote no on the bill was viewed as significant because of his leadership role as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.
On Friday afternoon, the House of Representatives canceled its vote on the American Health Care Act after postponing it on Thursday because the Republicans lacked enough votes to pass the bill.
In an emailed statement Friday morning, Frelinghuysen said, “The legislation before the House today is currently unacceptable as it would place significant new costs and barriers to care on my constituents in New Jersey.
“In addition to the loss of Medicaid coverage for so many people in my Medicaid-dependent state, the denial of essential health benefits in the individual market raise serious coverage and cost issues.”
Frelinghuysen joined his New Jersey GOP colleagues Leonard Lance, Frank LoBiondo and Chris Smith in opposing the current bill.
He said he had “wanted to support legislation that made positive changes to rescue health care in America.”
“I remain hopeful that the American Health Care Act will be further modified. We need to get this right for all Americans.”
