Bruce Poliquin

President Donald Trump’s call to repeal the Affordable Care Act and then work to find a replacement for it failed to sway anyone in Maine’s legislative delegation.

U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, a 2nd District Republican, said Tuesday that “in light of what we have seen over the last several months, once again, I cannot support the repeal of the ACA without a viable replacement.”

Also opposing the move are U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King as well as U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, a 1st District Democrat.

Poliquin said he is sticking by his 2015 decision to stick with the ACA, also known as Obamacare, until there is “a responsible, sustainable health insurance plan in place.”

“That common sense approach is only fair to our families struggling to afford coverage whether it be an Obamacare policy or not,” said Poliquin, who is in his second term.

The Senate is scheduled to vote Tuesday on whether to move ahead with some sort of healthcare proposal, though it remains unclear what exactly senators will ultimately be asked to vote on. A straight repeal is one likely option, though it may not have enough support.

Poliquin, who voted for a controversial repeal-and-replace alternative two months ago, said the Senate’s failure to find a plan that can win enough votes “points to the real possibility of not having a replacement for the failing Obamacare law” if the ACA is repealed.

This story will be updated.

scollins@sunjournal.com

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