Gubernatorial responses to the July 2017 effort to repeal the ACA

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In the summer of 2017, members of the U.S. Senate discussed legislation that would repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in favor of alternative healthcare policies. Governors across the country issued statements on the proposed repeal and discussed the issue with members of their state's congressional delegation. In a July 13 editorial published in The Hill, Cornell Law professor Zachary Clopton argued that opposition to the Senate proposal from governors Brian Sandoval of Nevada and John Kasich of Ohio influenced the position of senators from their states. Noting that 31 states have a governor more popular than one or both of their U.S. Senators, Clopton argued that "Americans’ preference for executives — for 'doers' — might give governors a built-in advantage over senators in many cases" and that governors might use that advantage to exert influence over their states' senators in the future.

HIGHLIGHTS

Seventeen governors, including 12 Democrats and five Republicans, criticized the U.S. Senate's efforts to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Nineteen governors, including two Democrats, 16 Republicans, and one independent, issued statements outlining healthcare policy proposals.

Six governors, all Republicans, issued statements in support of the U.S. Senate's effort to repeal the law.

Eight governors, including one Democrat and seven Republicans, did not issue statements on the repeal effort.

Senate efforts to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

See also: Republican effort to repeal the ACA, July 2017

On June 22, 2017, the Senate released the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017 (BCRA), its version of the House bill, the American Health Care Act (AHCA). The bill was a reconciliation bill that proposed modifying the budgetary and fiscal provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare. On July 17, 2017, after weeks of negotiating the bill, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said that his party was unable to agree on a final replacement bill for the ACA. During the last week of July, the Senate voted on three major proposals to repeal and replace the ACA, but each one failed.

On July 25, 2017, the Senate held a vote on a motion to proceed to the AHCA, the House-passed repeal and replace bill. The motion was approved 51-50. Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) and all Senate Democrats voted against the motion. Vice President Mike Pence voted in favor of the bill to break the 50-50 tie, the fourth time he has cast a tie-breaking vote. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who had recently been diagnosed with brain cancer, returned to Capitol Hill to cast a vote in favor of the motion. Without his vote, the motion would have failed.

After the motion to proceed passed, the Senate rejected a procedural vote on the BCRA by a vote of 43-57. Sixty votes were needed to secure passage. GOP Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Dean Heller (R-Nev.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), and Mike Lee (R-Utah) voted against the repeal and replace proposal. No Democrats voted for the motion.

On July 26, 2017, the Senate rejected a proposal to repeal the ACA and delay the effective date for two years to provide time for a replacement bill. The proposal was similar to the repeal-only bill—the Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act—passed by Congress in 2015. The proposal was rejected by a vote of 45-55, with Republican Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Dean Heller (R-Nev.), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) voting against the measure.

On July 28, 2017, the Senate voted on an amendment from McConnell, also referred to as the "skinny bill." The amendment contained the provisions to repeal the requirements for individuals to enroll in health insurance and for employers to offer it, among other provisions. The amendment was rejected by a 49-51 vote. Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) joined 48 Democrats in voting against the amendment.

After the skinny bill failed, McConnell said, “it is time to move on,” and he called the final defeat disappointing.

June 2017 policy proposal

In March 2017, the National Governors Association launched the Governors' Bipartisan Health Reform Learning Network, a coalition of six states under Republican governors and seven states under Democratic governors tasked with proposing healthcare policy measures that would find bipartisan support. The group's initial report, which can be read here, emphasizes the importance of state government leadership in shaping healthcare policy and regulating insurers and of continued federal funding of Medicaid and opioid response programs.

July 2017 joint statement

On July 18, 2017, five Republican governors, five Democratic governors, and one Independent governor released a joint statement calling on the U.S. Senate to reject efforts to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act without enacting a replacement measure. The statement, which can be read here, calls for the nation's governors to have a greater role in shaping healthcare policy, and suggests regulation of insurance markets as a starting point for further discussion.

Gubernatorial responses

Gubernatorial Responses to Senate Healthcare Bill, July 2017
Governor	State	Response type	Response
Andrew Cuomo	New York	Criticism of repeal effort	Cuomo criticized efforts to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in a July 28, 2017, press release: “ The reckless, so-called "skinny repeal" would have raised costs on middle class New Yorkers and stripped health care from 16 million Americans. I commend the members of our Congressional delegation who stood up to the ultra-conservatives in Washington who launched an assault on our New York values by pushing this disgraceful bill. It is particularly disturbing that some members of our own delegation sold their votes and supported a previous version of this bill that would have hurt the very New Yorkers they were sent to Washington to represent. In New York we believe that health care is a right, not a luxury, and we will continue to fight to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to the quality and affordable health care that they need and deserve. ” —Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D)
Asa Hutchinson	Arkansas	Call for policy changes	Hutchinson called for a bipartisan effort to modify the nation's healthcare policy involving both the federal and state governments in a July 18, 2017, press release: “ My goal in recent weeks has been to help shape the national health-care debate on a repeal of Obamacare that is accompanied by a replacement bill that allows states like Arkansas to continue its reform efforts; assures access to affordable health-care coverage; and reduces the escalating costs of Medicaid in the future. As part of that debate, I have consistently said it is important to know where we are going with a replacement bill at the same time we repeal. Now it has been announced that the Senate bill does not have the votes. I look forward to discussing any future action with both Senator Boozman and Senator Cotton. They have provided significant help in getting changes in the Senate bill that are more favorable to Arkansas, and I am grateful for their support. Leaders from all parties agree that our nation’s current health-care system is clearly not working, and it is incumbent on us, as leaders, to find solutions to improve it. Democrats must join Republicans at the table and work to accomplish a solution to support sustainable health care in our nation. Governors, including myself, stand ready to partner with our colleagues in Congress in this effort. ” —Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R)
Bill Haslam	Tennessee	Call for policy changes	In a July 28, 2017, statement, Haslam called for policy changes to reduce the amount of money spent on healthcare: “ No matter if you’re a family, a business, or the state government or the federal government, everybody would agree Republicans and Democrats, health care is taking up too big a part of our budgets and we have to do something to address that. ” —Gov. Bill Haslam (R) Haslam was one of 13 governors whose state participated in the Governors' Bipartisan Health Reform Learning Network, an initiative of the National Governors Association intended to advance bipartisan healthcare policy proposals. The group's initial report was released on June 20, 2017.
Bill Walker	Alaska	Call for policy changes	Walker called for an increased role for state governments in shaping healthcare policy in a July 25, 2017, press release: “ As I have said before, I will not support any healthcare bill that hurts Alaskans or their access to care. Alaskans deserve a fair and transparent process so they can understand how this legislation will impact their lives and families; thus far, that has not been the case. My administration will continue to remain engaged with our congressional delegation as we work to determine what any final piece of legislation will look like, and how it will impact Alaskans. Along with other governors across the nation, I believe it is critical that we are brought to the table to provide input on this issue, and stand ready to work with lawmakers in a transparent, bipartisan manner to improve healthcare coverage for all Alaskans. ” —Gov. Bill Walker (I) Walker was one of 11 governors to sign a bipartisan statement calling for governors to have an expanded role in developing healthcare policy and opposing efforts to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act without a replacement plan in place.
Brian Sandoval	Nevada	Call for policy changes	Sandoval was one of 11 governors to sign a bipartisan statement calling for governors to have an expanded role in developing healthcare policy and opposing efforts to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act without a replacement plan in place.
Bruce Rauner	Illinois	Criticism of repeal effort	In response to a press inquiry at a July 18, 2017, bill signing, Rauner criticized proposed efforts to replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: “ Um, boy. Um, Craig [Dellimore], you know my comments. I’ve expressed my concern about the changes being proposed to the Affordable Care Act and their negative impact on our most vulnerable residents, both in the expanded Medicaid population in Illinois, it’s like about 650,000, as well as the many hundreds of thousands in the standard Medicaid program. I’m very concerned about it and I’ve expressed that these changes could be very damaging and I’ve said it publicly and I’ve expressed those concerns to various members of Congress as well as to the administration. ” —Gov. Bruce Rauner (R)
Butch Otter	Idaho	No statement	As of August 4, 2017, Ballotpedia has been unable to locate a statement by Otter on the U.S. Senate's proposal to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Charles D. Baker	Massachusetts	Criticism of repeal effort	In a July 14, 2017, statement, Baker criticized the U.S. Senate's proposed replacement for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: “ This proposal would leave more people uninsured, eliminate certain essential health benefits, further destabilize insurance markets, reduce federal funding and negatively impact important family planning services. ” —Gov. Charles D. Baker (R) Baker was one of 11 governors to sign a bipartisan statement calling for governors to have an expanded role in developing healthcare policy and opposing efforts to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act without a replacement plan in place.
Chris Christie	New Jersey	Criticism of repeal effort	In a July 18, 2017, interview, Christie argued that President Trump should have other policy priorities: “ I’d advise him to move on and move on to other priorities like tax reform and infrastructure...I’ve said that to the president for months. I don’t think there’s a will in Congress. I think they’ve shown that there’s no will in Congress for them to work with each other. ”
Chris Sununu	New Hampshire	Call for policy changes	In a July 28, 2017, statement, Sununu called for state governments to play an increased role in shaping healthcare policy: “ Right now, Washington is essentially in the healthcare business. My belief is, they've got to get out, they've got to let the implementers, those of us that are governors and on the front lines to implement these policies be a real part of that solution...We've got to provide flexibility, we've got to provide funding, and you've got to provide the ability for governors and legislatures to create efficient systems that will save costs and provide better quality of care in the future. ” —Gov. Chris Sununu (R)
Dan Malloy	Connecticut	Criticism of repeal effort	In a July 28, 2017, press statement, Malloy criticized efforts to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: “ Tonight’s vote on the so-called ‘skinny repeal’ bill was a sickening attempt to score cheap political points at the expense of American men, women and children. Senate Republicans have failed to produce a single proposal that would improve the American healthcare system. Instead, time and time again they have put forth destabilizing proposals that would result in millions more uninsured, higher premiums with less comprehensive coverage, and eviscerating coverage for our most vulnerable residents. Republicans in the House and Senate must immediately stop this attack on healthcare and instead work with the nation’s governors – both Democrats and Republicans – to stabilize the market and make improvements to the current system that will benefit all Americans, rather than needlessly putting millions of lives at risk. ” —Gov. Dan Malloy (D)
David Ige	Hawaii	No statement	As of August 7, 2017, Ballotpedia was unable to locate a statement from Ige on the U.S. Senate's proposal to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Dennis Daugaard	South Dakota	Call for policy changes	On July 27, 2017, Daugaard Chief of Staff Tony Venhuizen outlined the governor's desire for increased power for state governments to determine healthcare policy, decreased federal spending on healthcare, and modifications to the individual healthcare market, saying that Daugaard "is not publicly weighing in on every different iteration that comes forward...But he generally supports plans that support those priorities." Daugaard was one of 13 governors whose state participated in the Governors' Bipartisan Health Reform Learning Network, an initiative of the National Governors Association intended to advance bipartisan healthcare policy proposals. The group's initial report was released on June 20, 2017.
Doug Burgum	North Dakota	No statement	As of August 7, 2017, Ballotpedia was unable to locate a statement from Burgum on the U.S. Senate's proposal to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Doug Ducey	Arizona	Call for policy changes	In a four-part tweet on July 27, 2017, Ducey expressed opposition to the U.S. Senate's proposed repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act while supporting the broader push to replace the law: “ It's no secret Obamacare has been a disaster for Arizona and that I want it repealed and replaced. However, I agree with @SenJohnMcCain that the bill on the table clearly isn’t the right approach for Arizona. I've outlined what I'm for & how to increase flexibility for states to improve our health care system. We want to get the policy right so my office & Sen. McCain's office will continue to work together closely to achieve the best result possible for Arizonans. ” —Gov. Doug Ducey (R)
Eric Greitens	Missouri	No statement	As of August 7, 2017, Ballotpedia was unable to locate a statement from Greitens on the U.S. Senate's proposal to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Eric Holcomb	Indiana	Call for policy changes	In a July 24, 2017, open letter, Holcomb called for changes to federal healthcare policy to replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act while giving state governments greater control over healthcare: “ Health care will not be reformed by maintaining the status quo. That’s simply said but harder to swallow when you see the effects on individuals. I urge the Senate to continue the important work of repealing and replacing Obamacare. Fixing the root problems in our system will be difficult, but as history has shown, Indiana is well positioned to lead the way with solutions tailored to our unique population. ” —Gov. Eric Holcomb (R)
Gary Herbert	Utah	No statement	As of August 4, 2017, Ballotpedia was unable to locate a statement from Herbert on the U.S. Senate's proposal to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Herbert was one of 13 governors whose state participated in the Governors' Bipartisan Health Reform Learning Network, an initiative of the National Governors Association intended to advance bipartisan healthcare policy proposals. The group's initial report was released on June 20, 2017.
Gina Raimondo	Rhode Island	Criticism of repeal effort	In a June 22, 2017, press release, Raimondo criticized efforts to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: “ Congressional Republicans are trying to pass an immoral piece of legislation and they're hoping that no one notices. The Affordable Care Act is working in Rhode Island. 100,000 Rhode Islanders count on the ACA for access to life-saving health coverage. The Senate TrumpCare proposal is just as 'mean' as the House version and puts American and Rhode Island lives at risk so millionaires and billionaires can get a tax cut. I stand with hundreds of thousands of Rhode Islanders, including Senators Reed and Whitehouse and Congressmen Langevin and Cicilline in vocal, active opposition to this disastrous proposal. ” —Gov. Gina Raimondo (D)
Greg Abbott	Texas	No statement	As of August 7, 2017, Ballotpedia was unable to locate a statement from Abbott on the U.S. Senate's proposal to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Henry McMaster	South Carolina	Support for repeal effort	In a July 11, 2017, letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, McMaster called for the repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: “ The voters elected President Trump and Republican majorities in Congress on promises that they would implement a cost-effective, free market replacement for Obamacare...The cost increases resulting from this top-down, one-size-fits-all approach have resulted in higher insurance premiums and rising health care costs. ” —Gov. Henry McMaster (R)
Jay Inslee	Washington	Criticism of repeal effort	In a July 25, 2017, press statement, Inslee criticized the healthcare bill before the Senate, asserting that it would decrease access to healthcare while increasing costs: “ It’s inconceivable that any of our nation’s leaders think our health care system will be improved by ripping away health care from 22 million Americans and vastly increasing the costs for millions more. President Trump promised Americans he would improve our health care system. He promised he would not cut Medicaid, and that his plan would make health care more accessible and more affordable. Trumpcare doesn’t deliver on a single one of those promises. In fact it exacerbates each of them. This isn’t about repeal, or repeal and replace. Republican congressional leaders and President Trump want to instead repeal and redirect this funding to an enormous tax break for the wealthiest Americans. ” —Gov. Jay Inslee (D) Inslee was one of 13 governors whose state participated in the Governors' Bipartisan Health Reform Learning Network, an initiative of the National Governors Association intended to advance bipartisan healthcare policy proposals. The group's initial report was released on June 20, 2017.
Jerry Brown	California	Criticism of repeal effort	In a July 28, 2017, tweet, Brown celebrated the U.S. Senate's vote not to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, saying "Profoundly important vote. Good for the American people." Brown was one of 13 governors whose state participated in the Governors' Bipartisan Health Reform Learning Network, an initiative of the National Governors Association intended to advance bipartisan healthcare policy proposals. The group's initial report was released on June 20, 2017.
Jim Justice	West Virginia	Call for policy changes	On July 21, 2017, Justice called for a bipartisan effort to modify the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act rather than an outright repeal.
John Bel Edwards	Louisiana	Criticism of repeal effort	At a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 18, 2017, Edwards criticized the U.S. Senate's proposed replacement for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, arguing that it would not have reduced the cost of healthcare: "The bill really was a bad bill, not just for the state of Louisiana but for the country...It was going to do nothing to stabilize the markets for the (health insurance) exchange." Edwards was one of 11 governors to sign a bipartisan statement calling for governors to have an expanded role in developing healthcare policy and opposing efforts to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act without a replacement plan in place.
John C. Carney, Jr.	Delaware	Criticism of repeal effort	In a series of tweets on July 28, Carney criticized the U.S. Senate's proposed repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, arguing that it would have limited access to healthcare: “ We can’t shift health care costs onto the most vulnerable among us, and cause premiums to rise dramatically for hardworking DE families. I am relieved that the U.S. Senate voted against changes to our health care system that would have endangered coverage for thousands in DE. I urge Congress to shift its focus to make quality health care more affordable for more people. At the state level, I'll continue working with @Delaware_DHSS and the General Assembly on ways to reduce overall health care spending. ” —Gov. John C. Carney, Jr. (D) Carney was one of 13 governors whose state participated in the Governors' Bipartisan Health Reform Learning Network, an initiative of the National Governors Association intended to advance bipartisan healthcare policy proposals. The group's initial report was released on June 20, 2017.
John Hickenlooper	Colorado	Call for policy changes	In a July 28, 2017, press release, Hickenlooper criticized efforts to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and called on governors to take a leading role in shaping healthcare policy: “ We are encouraged that the Senate has rejected efforts that would have raised health care costs, limited health care coverage, and hurt hundreds of thousands of Coloradans. It’s time to roll up our sleeves and deliver specific plans that will improve our health insurance system by lowering costs and providing stability for the marketplace. As governors, we are on the front lines of this debate. We must move forward in a transparent, collaborative, bipartisan manner to address problems we can all agree need fixing. ” —Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) Hickenlooper was one of 11 governors to sign a bipartisan statement calling for governors to have an expanded role in developing healthcare policy and opposing efforts to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act without a replacement plan in place.
John Kasich	Ohio	Criticism of repeal effort	In a July 18, 2017, interview, Kasich criticized the U.S. Senate's proposed replacement for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and argued against repealing the law without a replacement plan in place: "If you just got rid of that, then a lot of people would lose their health insurance...To just repeal something like that, where do people go then? You just can't walk away from that." Kasich was one of 11 governors to sign a bipartisan statement calling for governors to have an expanded role in developing healthcare policy and opposing efforts to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act without a replacement plan in place.
Kate Brown	Oregon	Criticism of repeal effort	In a June 28, 2017, press release, Brown praised the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and argued against its repeal: “ This Senate bill is no more than a giant tax break disguised as a health care bill. As a health care bill, it is cruel. It creates barriers to preventive services. It forces low-income and older Americans to pay more for inferior care, and it would rip coverage from more than 440,000 Oregonians. All of this under the guise of lowering health care costs. Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, Oregon has expanded health care coverage to 95 percent of residents, while bending the cost curve and saving taxpayers more than $1.5 billion. The Senate bill would wipe out that progress, slashing critical services, lowering standards of care to unacceptable levels, and cutting 23,000 jobs. ” —Gov. Kate Brown (D)
Kay Ivey	Alabama	Call for policy changes	On July 24, 2017, Ivey press secretary Daniel Sparkman announced that she sought fewer restrictions on how to spend federal funds received under Medicaid without a reduction in their amount.
Kim Reynolds	Iowa	Support for repeal effort	In a July 10, 2017, press conference, Reynolds criticized the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, arguing that it was not a viable long-term policy. She called for the law to be repealed and replaced with a bill that would address the cost of acquiring health insurance.
Larry Hogan	Maryland	Call for policy changes	Hogan was one of 11 governors to sign a bipartisan statement calling for governors to have an expanded role in developing healthcare policy and opposing efforts to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act without a replacement plan in place.
Mark Dayton	Minnesota	Criticism of repeal effort	During a July 5, 2017, press conference, Dayton criticized proposed replacement plans for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, arguing that they would increase the number of Minnesotans not covered by health insurance: "The fact that Republicans in the House and Senate would even consider something that could have a devastating affect on over a million Minnesotans is just shameful." Dayton was one of 13 governors whose state participated in the Governors' Bipartisan Health Reform Learning Network, an initiative of the National Governors Association intended to advance bipartisan healthcare policy proposals. The group's initial report was released on June 20, 2017.
Mary Fallin	Oklahoma	No statement	As of August 7, 2017, Ballotpedia was unable to locate a statement from Fallin on the U.S. Senate's proposal to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Matt Bevin	Kentucky	Support for repeal efforts	In a June 27, 2017, radio interview, Bevin criticized the Senate's proposal to repeal and replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, but argued in favor of its passage on the basis that it was preferable to the status quo. Bevin was one of 13 governors whose state participated in the Governors' Bipartisan Health Reform Learning Network, an initiative of the National Governors Association intended to advance bipartisan healthcare policy proposals. The group's initial report was released on June 20, 2017.
Matt Mead	Wyoming	Call for policy changes	At a July 14, 2017, conference, Mead called for state governments to have an increased role in shaping healthcare policy and emphasized the importance of structuring healthcare policy to account for rural areas: "For governors always, whenever Congress is acting, we want to make sure they understand that the states, we’re boots on the ground...And it’s our jobs to make sure the citizens’ safety, welfare, health care are taken care of." Mead was one of 13 governors whose state participated in the Governors' Bipartisan Health Reform Learning Network, an initiative of the National Governors Association intended to advance bipartisan healthcare policy proposals. The group's initial report was released on June 20, 2017.
Nathan Deal	Georgia	Call for policy changes	In a June 29, 2017, interview, Deal emphasized the importance of a healthcare policy proposal that does not favor states that chose to expand their Medicaid programs under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act over states that chose not to: "From a state standpoint, our main concern is our Medicaid program. As I have said before, we want to make sure we are not punished because we did not expand our Medicaid population...We want to be treated fairly."
Paul LePage	Maine	Support for repeal effort	In an August 1, 2017, editorial in the Wall Street Journal, LePage criticized Maine Senators Angus King and Susan Collins for their opposition to the repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: “ When it comes to providing affordable health care to the people of Maine, Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King are worse than out of touch—they are downright dangerous. After Maine expanded Medicaid to childless adults in 2002 under then-Gov. King, the program nearly bankrupted our state. But now Ms. Collins and Mr. King are pushing to do it again by refusing to reform ObamaCare and prevent the future expansion of Medicaid. ” —Gov. Paul LePage (R)
Pete Ricketts	Nebraska	Support for repeal effort	In a July 27, 2017, statement, Ricketts emphasized the importance of a rapid repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, asserting that the law was having a negative impact on Nebraska: “ It is absolutely critical that the Senate and the House act on healthcare reform. We are down to one insurer in Nebraska and we need to have something that will stabilize the insurance marketplace. I want to complement Senator Fischer and Senator Sasse for continuing to vote to move forward this process. It is absolutely vital. ” —Gov. Pete Ricketts (R)
Phil Bryant	Mississippi	Support for repeal effort	In a July 27, 2017, tweet, Bryant called for the immediate repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: "If necessary, our senators will fight through the night to end Obamacare. It is time to stand up and repeal this disastrous law."
Phillip Scott	Vermont	Call for policy changes	In a July 25, 2017, interview, Scott called for governors to have a greater role in shaping healthcare policy and opposed efforts to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act without a replacement plan: "I think most agree that the ACA in its present form isn’t sustainable and something has to change, but that something is the question...There is consensus that governors would like to provide input. To date, neither the president nor Congress have taken the advice that governors have provided." Scott was one of 11 governors to sign a bipartisan statement calling for governors to have an expanded role in developing healthcare policy and opposing efforts to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act without a replacement plan in place. Scott was also one of 13 governors whose state participated in the Governors' Bipartisan Health Reform Learning Network, an initiative of the National Governors Association intended to advance bipartisan healthcare policy proposals. The group's initial report was released on June 20, 2017.
Rick Scott	Florida	Call for policy changes	In a July 14, 2017, press release, Scott criticized the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and called for its repeal, while arguing that future healthcare policies should focus on maximizing the effect of each dollar spent: “ While a new bill has been introduced this week, it has taken far too long to get rid of the disaster of Obamacare, and I fear the politicians in Washington will never find common ground on this critical topic. There is absolutely no question that Obamacare must be repealed immediately so Americans can actually afford to purchase health insurance. To lower costs, fundamental reform to the Medicaid program is needed. Obamacare encouraged a massive expansion of Medicaid to cover able-bodied, working-aged adults, even as 600,000 elderly Americans and individuals with disabilities nationwide sit on waiting lists to access services through this program. States like Florida that have run increasingly efficient Medicaid programs, and have not expanded Medicaid, must be rewarded and treated fairly under any bill. What’s concerning is that under the most recently proposed Senate bill, tax and spend states like New York will continue to be rewarded for running an inefficient Medicaid program. ” —Gov. Rick Scott (R)
Rick Snyder	Michigan	Criticism of repeal effort	Snyder expressed reservations towards the U.S. Senate's proposal to repeal and replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in a June 26, 2017 statement: "I would say I have serious concerns with what’s in the Senate bill, as I did with the House...I’m not sure it’s a good outcome for Michigan at this point in time."
Roy Cooper	North Carolina	Criticism of repeal effort	During a July 6, 2017, press conference, Cooper expressed opposition to efforts to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and argued that the replacement proposal that was being discussed in the Senate would worsen the opioid crisis: “ We are kidding ourselves if we don’t think this health care debate that’s happening in Congress doesn’t affect the opioid crisis...If we end up with federal healthcare legislation that takes away insurance, that reduces Medicaid to the state, then this problem is going to get worse. ” —Gov. Roy Cooper (D)
Sam Brownback	Kansas	No statement	As of August 4, 2017, Ballotpedia was unable to locate a statement from Brownback on the U.S. Senate's effort to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Scott Walker	Wisconsin	Call for policy changes	In a July 29, 2017, press release, Walker called for the repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and for its replacement with a healthcare policy driven by state governments: “ The best way to repeal and replace Obamacare is to give each state the resources and responsibility for health care. Specifically, provide each state with an adequately funded block grant as well as full responsibility for decisions regarding health care and health insurance coverage. Governors and other state leaders are more effective, more efficient, and more accountable to the public. Adequately funded block grants to the states should hold Medicaid expansion states harmless while providing some parity to non-expansion states. Giving states full responsibility allows decisions to be make closer to the people so they can accommodate state and regional needs as opposed to a one-size-fits-all mentality from Washington. The welfare reform law that was signed in 1996 is a model. States were given adequately funded block grants that are still used today and welfare rolls dropped as people transitioned from government dependence to true independence through work. ” —Gov. Scott Walker (R)
Steve Bullock	Montana	Call for policy changes	Bullock was one of 11 governors to sign a bipartisan statement calling for governors to have an expanded role in developing healthcare policy and opposing efforts to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act without a replacement plan in place. Bullock was also one of 13 governors whose state participated in the Governors' Bipartisan Health Reform Learning Network, an initiative of the National Governors Association intended to advance bipartisan healthcare policy proposals. The group's initial report was released on June 20, 2017.
Susana Martinez	New Mexico	Call for policy changes	On July 28, 2017, Martinez spokesman Joseph Cueto said that the governor was opposed to fees and medical taxes levied by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and called on Congress to draft a bill that would address those issues.
Terry McAuliffe	Virginia	Criticism of repeal effort	In a July 25, 2017, press release, McAuliffe criticized efforts to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: “ Congressional Republicans once again are hastily working to dismantle the Affordable Care Act and rip away health coverage from tens of millions of Americans. This process has been negotiated in secret and there is no clear path forward. Both the House and Senate versions to replace the ACA would leave hundreds of thousands of Virginians without insurance, decimate our state budget, and severely impact our ability to provide quality health care coverage and long-term care for those who need it the most. On behalf of all hard-working Virginia families, I urge the Senate to reject any legislation repealing the ACA. Instead, let us work together in a bipartisan manner to improve the ACA, stabilize our private health insurance markets, and increase health insurance coverage for all Americans. ” —Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) McAuliffe was one of 11 governors to sign a bipartisan statement calling for governors to have an expanded role in developing healthcare policy and opposing efforts to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act without a replacement plan in place. McAuliffe was also one of 13 governors whose state participated in the Governors' Bipartisan Health Reform Learning Network, an initiative of the National Governors Association intended to advance bipartisan healthcare policy proposals. The group's initial report was released on June 20, 2017.
Tom Wolf	Pennsylvania	Criticism of repeal effort	In a statement released on July 17, 2017, Wolf criticized the U.S. Senate's proposal to repeal and replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, arguing that it would cause Pennsylvania to lose tens of billions of dollars in federal funding. Wolf was one of 11 governors to sign a bipartisan statement calling for governors to have an expanded role in developing healthcare policy and opposing efforts to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act without a replacement plan in place. Wolf was also one of 13 governors whose state participated in the Governors' Bipartisan Health Reform Learning Network, an initiative of the National Governors Association intended to advance bipartisan healthcare policy proposals. The group's initial report was released on June 20, 2017.

See also

• Republican and conservative proposals to repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)
• Republican effort to repeal the ACA, July 2017
• Governor