Gov. Gregoire�s statement on Attorney General�s lawsuit against health care reform

For Immediate Release: March 22, 2010

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire issued the following statement today regarding news of Washington state�s Attorney General Rob McKenna�s decision to file a lawsuit against the health care reform law passed by Congress yesterday:

�I�m disappointed that the Attorney General would participate in a lawsuit to repeal a law that would help 1.5 million Washingtonians get access to affordable, quality health care.

�I completely disagree with the Attorney General�s decision and he does not represent me.

�He doesn�t represent the people of Washington who would get assistance so they could afford quality health insurance. He doesn�t represent the thousands of small businesses that would benefit from tax credits to provide coverage for their employees. He doesn�t represent the thousands who will no longer be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition. He doesn�t represent the half million young people in our state who would be covered under their parents plan until they are 26. He doesn�t represent our state�s Medicare recipients. He doesn�t represent the taxpayers of Washington.

�This is landmark legislation that will cover over 32 million Americans who don�t have health care. I have made it clear to the Attorney General that I will actively oppose this lawsuit if it moves forward.�

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