Lobby for Big Corporations Awards Tillis High Marks for Anti-Health Care Agenda

LOBBY FOR BIG CORPORATIONS AWARDS TILLIS HIGH MARKS FOR ANTI-HEALTH CARE AGENDA

89% lifetime score of doing what the big corporations want reflects Tillis votes for ACA repeal, against lower drug costs

Raleigh, N.C. - The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the lobbying group for some of the nation’s biggest corporations, gave a 100% legislative score and 89% lifetime score to Senator Thom Tillis for his loyal votes to their agenda. The votes he’s praised for include Chamber priorities that protect their health insurance and drug company members. The Chamber has consistently opposed efforts to make health care more affordable and to lower the cost of prescription drugs.

“Senator Tillis’ votes to repeal the Affordable Care Act and against lower drug costs may be popular with D.C.’s business lobbyists, but they’re dangerous for North Carolinians -- especially in the middle of a pandemic,” said Piedmont Rising Executive Director Casey Wilkinson. “Tillis’ Senate career has been marked by repeated votes to make health care less affordable and less accessible while protecting the interests of pharmaceutical companies and the health insurance industry. North Carolina’s senators should be focused on the best interests of North Carolinians, not on D.C.’s special interests.”

Late last week, the U.S. Chamber launched television ads touting Tillis’ Senate work. The ads conspicuously do not mention Tillis’ votes or positions on health care issues.

Background:

• The U.S. Chamber of Commerce supported multiple legislative efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Sen. Tillis has voted seven times to repeal the ACA

• The U.S. Chamber also opposes the Lower Drug Costs Now Act, which would limit prescription drug price hikes and out-of-pocket drug costs for Americans. Sen. Tillis has refused to take a position on this legislation

• The U.S. Chamber supported allowing insurance companies to sell “junk” insurance plans that do not comply with the ACA’s requirements to limit out-of-pocket costs and cover Essential Health Benefits, like prescription drugs. Sen. Tillis voted in favor of such plans in 2018

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About Piedmont Rising

Piedmont Rising is a 501(c)4 issue advocacy organization built by and for North Carolinians to advocate for lower insurance premiums and prescription drug costs and to ensure that more people have access to safe and affordable health care. Through grassroots organizing, education, and engagement, we are amplifying our health care stories and holding our elected officials accountable to the people, and issues they were elected to represent. www.piedmontrising.org