Kennedy hits Van Drew on healthcare as uninsurance rate rises

House candidate Amy Kennedy hit Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis) over the state’s growing number of uninsured residents

“Jeff Van Drew betrayed the people of South Jersey when he switched parties. Now, Congressman Van Drew is actively supporting efforts to strip millions of their health care in the middle of a public health and economic crisis,” Kennedy said. “Our communities deserve a leader willing to stand up for the needs of our people and families and workers across South Jersey need affordable and accessible health care that isn’t tied to employment.”

A report released this month found 5.4 million Americans, including 124,000 New Jerseyans, lost health insurance because of COVID-19-related job losses.

The candidate is referring to President Donald Trump’s administration’s latest attempt to invalidate the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This time, Trump has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to invalidate the law, often referred to as Obamacare.

Though Trump and Van Drew have maintained a close alliance following the congressman’s impeachment-fueled defection to the Republican party, the two may be at odds here.

Van Drew in late June voted in favor of a major expansion to the ACA that would expand federal subsidies for private insurance and reverse some Trump administration policies undercutting the law, among other things.

He was just one of two Republicans to vote for the measure, which will almost certainly fail to make it out of the Senate.

“Congressman Van Drew needs to stop spending his time raising money for President Trump, and start serving the people who elected him to serve,” Kennedy said. “I’m committed to bringing real change in South Jersey, to protecting our families and our workers and to ensuring the well-being of our communities through access to affordable health care.”