Last night, Congressman Evan Jenkins fulfilled his campaign promise of voting to repeal the Affordable Care Act, making it more difficult for coal miners and their widows to receive black lung benefits. While Jenkins claimed to oppose any cuts in those benefits on the campaign trail, his actions have yet again spoken for themselves.
Instead of standing up for West Virginia families by offering an amendment to protect the Federal Black Lung Benefits Program, Jenkins was a rubberstamp who voted in lockstep with Republican leadership that scheduled the vote just to placate their Tea Party base.
“I’m shocked – SHOCKED – that Congressman Evan Jenkins told West Virginia voters on the campaign trail one thing, but has already done another in Washington just one month into his term,” said Tyrone Gayle of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Self-interested and spineless politicians like Congressman Evan Jenkins don’t change – West Virginia coal miners and their spouses deserve someone who will put the care they need above a reckless political agenda.”
BACKGROUND
Jenkins Co-Sponsored and Voted to Repeal the ACA. On February 3, 2015, Jenkins voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. He also co-sponsored the bill on February 2, 2015. [HR 596, Vote #58, 2/03/15, Co-Sponsored, 2/02/15]
Jenkins Promised to “Lead Efforts to Repeal Obamacare.” In 2014, Jenkins’ campaign website promised he would repeal the Affordable Care Act: “As the disastrous implementation of Obama’s health law has proved, this is a classic boondoggle that will greatly damage our health care system. Evan will lead efforts to repeal ObamaCare…” [Evanjenkins.com, accessed 2/04/15]
Repealing the Affordable Care Act Would Eliminate Access to Black Lung Benefits. In October 2012, the West Virginia Gazette stated, “[R]epealing the act would remove a major new provision of black lung law that has made it easier for disabled miners or their widows to get federal benefits for the deadly disease […] As part of the federal health-care reform law, Byrd succeeded in reversing Reagan-era changes to the black lung benefits program that had made it harder for miners or their widows to obtain those benefits. Under Byrd’s amendment, the law reverts to assuming that miners with at least 15 years’ experience who have a disabling respiratory condition have black lung disease.” [Charleston Gazette, 10/27/12]
United Mine Workers President: Repeal would “Cut[] Off Black Lung Benefits for Many, if not Most.” “Repealing the ACA, [United Mine Workers of America President Cecil] Roberts added, would ‘have the practical effect of once again cutting off black lung benefits for many, if not most of those applying for them.’ Joe Massie, president of the National black lung Association, also said the ACA helps miners and widows get black lung benefits.” [Charleston Gazette, 3/26/14]