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Golden protests ‘gotcha politics’ move by House leaders

May 20, 2019

Upset by what he saw as "a cynical move" by congressional leaders, Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Golden protested their decision to tie several bipartisan measures aimed at lowering prescription drug prices to proposals to strengthen the Affordable Care Act.

Though the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives approved the package, the Lewiston legislator said including the ACA provisions killed an opportunity to give the Republican-controlled Senate legislation it might approve.

Golden, serving in his first term from Maine's politically divided 2nd Congressional District, said Monday that maneuver was "exactly the kind of ‘gotcha' politics" voters sent him to Washington to combat.

Frustrated by the decision, Golden sent a letter to the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, and other Republican and Democratic leaders expressing disappointment in the move.

Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pennsylvania, and three Republicans also signed onto Golden's letter. The Maine legislator said others told him they agreed with him but did not want to risk upsetting the leaders "for fear of consequences."

Golden said the issues involved were exactly the type that offer hope for bipartisan measures that might pass both houses of Congress, and potentially secure the backing of President Donald Trump.

Three bipartisan bills came out of committee, the legislator said, that together would have helped to reduce the price of prescription drugs a little. Golden said they would not make a big difference, but they would help.

Instead of allowing a straightforward House vote on them, Golden said, the Rules Committee lumped them in with four ACA-related bills that GOP lawmakers would not support, effectively ending the chance of winning any Republican backing for the package of bills.

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