FACT CHECK: Sununu, Like Trump, Wants To Repeal The Affordable Care Act

Concord, N.H. - At tonight’s debate, Chris Sununu lied about how, like Trump, he wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act.  

“Sununu calls himself a quote ‘Trump guy, through and through’– and for good reason. Like Trump, Sununu is backed by health insurance and drug companies and like Trump he wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act - which would have disastrous effects for Granite Staters,” said Michael Beyer,  spokesperson for the New Hampshire Democratic Party.

BACKGROUND: 

• Sununu called the 2012 Supreme Court decision upholding Obamacare “our nightmare.” According to Chris Sununu’s Twitter account, he said, “Condolences to all Americans who woke up to find yesterday's ruling was not a dream. It's our reality & our nightmare #NHGOP #NH #NHPolitics.” [Twitter, 6/29/12]

• Sununu Said The Affordable Care Act “Is A Disaster, It Has Failed, And [It] Must Be Repealed.” In an interview with Girard at Large, Rich Girard asked Sununu, “What would it have looked like if you were governor and you had legislation pending to phase out the expanded Medicaid program?” Sununu said, “Well, there’s a couple parts to this. If I could, let me just me back up to the study that you brought up. I haven’t read the study, I don’t know the study, so I don’t want to comment too much on it but fundamentally, in this state—and I say this as an employer with 800 employees, as an employer who is constantly battling Obamacare, which is a disaster, it has failed, and must be repealed—we in the private sector are constantly being pushed to push our employees onto public sector plans whether it’s the healthcare exchange, whether it’s expanded Medicaid. There is all this incentive to go there.” [Girard at Large, 6:30, 9/9/16]

• Sununu called Obamacare “a disaster” in a letter to Donald Trump. According to a letter Sununu penned to Donald Trump, he said, “Make no mistake, Obamacare has been a disaster that is in desperate need of reform...” [Office of Governor Sununu, 8/9/17]

• Sununu bragged about voting to block setting up a state-run Obamacare exchange. According to Chris Sununu’s Twitter account, he said, “I fought against Obamacare for 2 years.  While others may be happy with  overreaching Federal bureaucracy, I vow to keep fighting for #NH” [Twitter, 6/29/12]

• When he first ran for governor in 2016, Sununu pledged to fight to repeal the Affordable Care Act. According to Chris Sununu’s Twitter account, he said, “As Gov, I'll support repeal of Obamacare+push for alternatives to reduce cost. Read about my econ plan: http://bit.ly/29DzImi #nhpolitics” [Twitter, 7/13/16]

• Headline: Sununu says he’s happy Obamacare repeal is moving forward [Concord Monitor, 5/5/17]

###