Giannoulias Joins 10th District Beneficiaries of Health Insurance Reform Legislation

Press Release

The day after President Obama signed landmark health care legislation into law, U.S. Senate nominee Alexi Giannoulias joined health insurance reform beneficiaries and small business owners at Hel's Kitchen Catering, a small business in Republican Congressman Mark Kirk's 10th congressional district. Giannoulias called on Kirk to explain to his constituents why he said last week that he will lead the fight to repeal the health insurance reform bill. Kirk's pledge would deny access to health care benefits for 32 million Americans, allow insurance companies to discriminate based on pre-existing conditions, and increase drug prices for seniors.

"By promising to lead the fight to repeal health insurance reform, Kirk and the Republicans are pushing to eliminate tax credits for small businesses, to leave people with pre-existing conditions at the mercy of insurance companies, and to make some seniors pay hundreds of dollars more out of pocket ever year for prescription drugs," said Giannoulias. "While Congressman Kirk spends his time in Washington, D.C. working against President Obama and meaningful reform, it is clear he is out of touch with what people in Illinois are going through, even in his own back yard."

Congressman Kirk's commitment to obstruction and political posturing over solutions for Illinois families is clear. On March 12, 2010, while at an event in Winnetka, IL, Kirk referred to President Obama as a "one-termer" and said, "I can't wait to vote against the health care bill," and "I would lead the effort, if it passes, to repeal this bill."

"Insurance is costing my small business and my family more and more money every year," said Jan Wood, co-owner of JP Wood Martial Arts. "Pre-existing conditions within our family make it extremely difficult to find reasonable premiums, and when we do, because the deductible is so high, we continue to pay all medical costs outs of pocket without gaining any of the plan's benefits. We have waited a long time for meaningful health care reform that will make good, affordable health insurance a reality. Repealing it is simply not an option."

In January, a month before the bipartisan health care summit and two months before a final bill was released, Kirk signed the Club for Growth petition to repeal health care reform. On Monday, Rep. Michelle Bachmann introduced a bill to do just that. Kirk has yet to sign onto the bill.

"By refusing to take donations from corporate PACs and federal lobbyists, I stand with working families across Illinois, not the corporate special interests who have poured millions of dollars into Mark Kirk's campaign coffers. I will continue to deliver real solutions to this country, from health insurance reform to financial regulation to creating new jobs in Illinois," Giannoulias said.

Now that health care reform has been signed into law, Congressman Kirk needs to answer some important questions. Today, the Alexi for Illinois campaign launched a new website feature, the "Tick Tock Repeal It?" clock, to help Congressman Kirk keep track of how long it will take for him to return to Illinois and answer questions on his obstructionist Republican agenda and out-of-touch positions on health care.

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