(TRENTON) – Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson/Bergen) released the following statement on Thursday on the House Republican vote to take away health care from a half-million New Jerseyans:

“This was a cruel vote by a heartless Republican majority intent on harming Americans for the sake of political talking points.

“America was built on the idea of progress. Allowing states to waive protections for those with pre-existing conditions is not progress. Allowing insurers to increase costs for senior citizens is not progress. Phasing out Medicaid expansion is not progress. Taking away health insurance from a half-million New Jerseyans is not progress. Undermining special education is not progress.

“It’s hard to understand how such a mean-spirited bill – one that will cost New Jersey taxpayers dearly – could have passed.

“My hope is that smarter heads somehow prevail in the U.S. Senate, and that those who were responsible for and supportive of this bill will be held accountable by the voters.”