Obamacare Repeal: How Ohio Representatives Voted

The House of Representatives, by the slimmest of margins, passed a health care bill on Thursday that would repeal and replace major parts of the Affordable Care Act. The voting among Ohio representatives was mostly split along party lines, with exceptions (see list below).

Two Ohio Republicans, David Joyce and Mike Turner, voted against the American Health Care Act. Joyce said in a statement that he could not support the American Health Care Act (AHCA), the ACA replacement, because it did nothing to bring down the cost of healthcare. He also said the AHCA would cause premiums to skyrocket for people with pre-existing conditions and those nearing retirement age.

“I ultimately could not support the American Health Care Act. This bill will leave our most vulnerable citizens with inadequate health coverage. I cannot support a health plan to replace Obamacare that puts my constituents’ health benefits at risk," Turner said in a statement.

The rest of Ohio's Republican Representatives said Thursday's vote was a step toward keeping a promise to their constituents. Ohio Republican Bill Johnson said he voted for the AHCA because it would dismantle ACA taxes and eliminate individual mandate penalties.

He also fired a shot at his Ohio colleagues, saying in a press release that, "Pre-existing conditions ARE covered, despite the false claims by some. Nobody can be charged higher premiums if they keep their coverage."

Democratic Representative Marcy Kaptur, the dean of the Ohio Congressional Delegation and the senior-most woman in the House, said the passing of the AHCA was "shameful."

"TrumpCare part two is the same bill it was before, a giant tax cut for the rich at the expense of 24 million people who would lose their insurance," she said in a statement. "Except, for this time, they are gutting critical consumer protections like the ban on dropping coverage because of pre-existing conditions. The American people need a helping hand and this bill is a slap in the face."

The final vote was 217-213. The bill has not yet been analyzed by the Congressional Budget Office.

Here is a list of how each Ohio representative voted:

Yes

• Jim Jordan, R-4
• Jim Renacci, R-16
• Steven Chabot, R-1
• Steve Stivers, R-15
• Pat Tiberi, R-12
• Bob Latta, R-5
• Brad Wenstrup, R-2
• Bob Gibbs, R-7
• Bill Johnson, R-6

No

• Tim Ryan, D-17
• Marcy Kaptur, D-9
• Marcia Fudge, D-11
• Joyce Beatty, D-3
• David Joyce, R-14
• Mike Turner, R-10

Photo from Shutterstock

Tom Davis, Patch, contributed to this report