WASHINGTON, D.C.— As the nation struggles with a spreading coronavirus pandemic, People For the American Way is calling out senators for repeated votes to confirm anti-health care federal judges. Appointing judges who oppose the Affordable Care Act, as well as the rights of all people to access health care and be treated with dignity when they do, is a key way the Trump administration has tried to undermine affordable and accessible health care.
In new videos released today, PFAW highlights how votes by Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO), Susan Collins (R-ME), Martha McSally (R-AZ), David Perdue (R-GA) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) to confirm anti-health care judges are seriously harming access to health care for millions of Americans.
“The coronavirus pandemic makes it clearer than ever how desperately we need accessible, affordable health care,” said Marge Baker, executive vice president for policy and program at People For the American Way. “Yet the Trump administration and its Republican allies in the Senate remain adamantly opposed to this goal. They are determined to destroy the Affordable Care Act and their primary strategy for doing so is by appointing far-right judges who will rule against the ACA in court. The current pandemic highlights just how cruel and wrongheaded this is.”
The videos can be found on PFAW’s Vote the Courts 2020 campaign page, here, linked to the name of each senator. The Vote the Courts campaign focuses on the critical importance of federal courts as an issue in this year’s elections for president and for senators. These elected officials play vital roles in putting fair-minded judges on the bench. Polls show that on this issue, Democrats have the edge. The Vote the Courts 2020 campaign has tracked what presidential primary candidates have said about the courts and identifies senators whose confirmation votes for unfit judges prove they don’t deserve to keep their seats.
About People For the American Way
People For the American Way is a progressive advocacy organization founded to fight right-wing extremism and build a democratic society that implements the ideals of freedom, equality, opportunity and justice for all. We encourage civic participation, defend fundamental rights, and fight to dismantle systemic barriers to equitable opportunity. Learn more: https://www.pfaw.org.