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As Health Care Vote Looms, Reports Reveal Senator Heller Received Over $8.8 Million from Big Money Pushing for ACA Repeal

Jul 25, 2017

The Loss of the ACA Could Led to Over 120,000 Nevadans Losing Coverage While Giving the Richest Americans a Tax Break

FEC data recently compiled by End Citizens United, the largest campaign finance reform PAC in the country, shows that Senator Dean Heller received over $8.8 million from outside spending groups who would benefit from – or at times expressly advocated for – the repeal of the ACA. The list includes the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and groups backed by the Koch Brothers and mega-donor Sheldon Adelson.

Under the Senate health care repeal bill, over 120,000 people in Nevada could lose their health insurance coverage, including 2,800 Nevada veterans, by 2026. Additionally, the average Nevada marketplace enrollee could see health insurance costs increase by over $2,000.

Despite the damage it could do to thousands of Nevadans, mega donors like Sheldon Adelson and the Koch Brothers and dark money influenced groups like the Chamber of Commerce have pushed for repeal. Under the Senate health care bill, the wealthiest would receive a tax cut of nearly $250,000 because the bill would eliminate mandates and taxes.

“Senator Heller has a choice. He can either stand with Nevadans or he can stand with Big Money,” said Tiffany Muller, president and executive director of End Citizens United. “You don’t have to be a detective to see the connection between the hundreds of thousand of dollars Sheldon Adelson and his cronies have spent to elect Senator Heller and their support to repeal the ACA. Senator Heller’s mega-donors expect to be repaid and you can bet Senator Heller doesn’t have the backbone to stand up and go against their wishes.”

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