PRESS RELEASE

Tammy Murphy Urges Women to Unite Against Tom MacArthur

The Republican congressman authored legislation to make being a woman a preexisting condition again

Burlington City—New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy today joined advocates, leaders and women from across the 3^rd Congressional District for a press conference and rally calling on women to vote Republican Congressman Tom MacArthur (NJ-3) out of office in the November 6 mid-term elections. MacArthur has been a staunch ally in the Trump administration’s attacks on women that have included efforts to repeal and dismantle the Affordable Care Act, attempts to defund Planned Parenthood, and tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations that endanger Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

“As front-line caregivers, we have seen patients getting treatment for the first time because healthcare is finally an option for them,” said Debbie White, State President of HPAE, registered nurse and Marlton resident. “Healthcare should be a right for all, and not a luxury for the few. Let’s tell Congressman MacArthur that women will continue to fight back against the Republicans’ attempts to take away healthcare. And on November 6th at the ballot box our voices and our votes will go far to protect our care.”

Tom MacArthur authored  the House ACA repeal bill that would have stripped tens of millions of health insurance and removed protections for more than 130 million Americans with pre-existing conditions. While the repeal ultimately died in the US Senate, the Trump administration and its allies have continued in their efforts to dismantle and defund the ACA. These include a refusal defend the landmark law against a current federal lawsuit that would strip people with pre-existing  conditions of their protections. The continuing assaults on the ACA and the nation’s healthcare system have mobilized women whose lives have been put in jeopardy.

“I’ve never been active in politics,” said Val Mattern, a Cinnaminson resident and cancer survivor who purchases her insurance through the ACA marketplace. “But I found it unconscionable that Tom MacArthur voted against people like me. I had been treated  with chemotherapy, radiation and surgery, I had lost my hair and as a single mom I was terrified for both myself and my four kids. In 2017 I knew I would have to go on the ACA exchange—and that’s when MacArthur led the push on ACA repeal. He should be voting to represent his constituents, and he’s not. So now it’s up to women like me to vote Tom MacArthur out.”

“I went through what no one ever should, getting diagnosed and treated for cancer without health insurance when I was 25,” said cancer survivor and Mount Laurel resident Regina Ehlinger. “Somehow, I made it through, but no one should have to go through that. But if Tom MacArthur had succeeded in repealing the Affordable Care Act tens of millions of people would have no health insurance. Any number of those people could have life-threatening diseases or pre-existing conditions like cancer.  Tom MacArthur is not voting for the sake of women, their families or his constituents. His district chief of staff even laughed at me when I shared my personal experience with him. We need new leadership in this district.”

MacArthur was the only member of the New Jersey congressional delegation to vote for the GOP tax laws that permanently limit the deductibility of state and local taxes (SALT) while giving massive tax breaks to the wealthy and big corporations that endanger Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. MacArthur’s terrible voting record on healthcare and taxes reflect his status as a Trump ally who puts the interests of wealthy and corporate campaign donors over that of his constituents.

“Tom MacArthur has time and again voted against women and their families,” said Ann Vardeman, program director for New Jersey Citizen Action. “MacArthur masquerades  as a moderate but the truth is he has voted in line with the Trump administration 94.6 percent of the time.  His votes have threatened women’s health care, their livelihoods and their very lives and have set us back in the continuing fight for equality. The only way forward for women is to vote Tom MacArthur out of office.”

“New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District will be a bellwether for the country,” said Marcia Marley, President of Blue Wave New Jersey. “If we vote Tom MacArthur out we can flip the House of Representatives. But the Blue Wave will only materialize if the women in this district vote. The women in New Jersey’s 3rd hold the future of our families, our communities and our country in their hands.”