Mason City, Iowa----Newt Gingrich today signed the Repeal Pledge to undo ObamaCare, this time in his capacity as an announced conservative Republican presidential candidate. The former Speaker had previously signed as a citizen to signify his commitment to full repeal of ObamaCare and opposition to the entire counterproductive approach it takes to health care. Mr. Gingrich becomes the first formally announced candidate for President to sign the presidential candidate version of the Repeal Pledge.
"Mr. Gingrich's decision to take the Repeal Pledge shows voters that, when it comes to health care, he gets it -- he understands that ObamaCare’s individual mandate is not just an unconstitutional government infringement on our constitutional liberties, but a tried-and-failed method at the state level. Moreover, he knows that if implemented, ObamaCare will lead to bigger government and less freedom, will place government bureaucrats between doctors and their patients, and will reduce our choice and control," said Heather Higgins, President and CEO of Independent Women's Voice.
"Newt's signature on the Pledge indicates that he understands that ObamaCare hurts seniors and increases costs for families, and that he would do everything in his power as President to promote not just repeal, but any and every effort to defund, deauthorize, and dismantle the misleadingly-titled 'Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,' if repeal is stymied by congressional opposition,” she added. "Undoing this harmful law is the first step to true health care reform."
"The Repeal Pledge was designed as a litmus test to help the American public understand which candidates and office holders are serious about repeal, versus those who claim to be but won't actually take action," continued Higgins. "By signing this pledge, Newt passes that test."
Signers of the pledge believe that this law cannot be "fixed" and that stopping its implementation and ultimately repealing it are necessary first steps to ensure that citizens and their doctors, not government bureaucrats, have choice and control over their health care, and that medical care in our country becomes more affordable and available while still respecting American liberties.
While the Repeal Pledge is designed for federal office holders, there is also a place for citizens to sign and express their solidarity with these principles.
The Repeal Pledge is a project of Independent Women’s Voice, a 501 (c) (4) nonpartisan, nonprofit organization.
For more information on The Repeal Pledge, including a complete list of signers, please visit www.TheRepealPledge.com. For interviews with Heather Higgins or other spokeswomen of Independent Women's Voice, please contact Carol Eberly at carol.eberly@iwvoice.org.
(Presidential Candidate Version)
I pledge, if elected, to sign all bills which seek to REPEAL the health care bill, HR 3590, signed into law on March 23, 2010.*
To that end, I would now and will for the duration of my presidency, promote and sign all measures leading to its defunding, deauthorization, and repeal.
I shall do so whether those measures are taken for the whole of the bill or those component parts that impose mandates, restrict patient and doctor choice and access, violate individual freedom and privacy, reduce healthy competition, increase costs, or raise taxes.
*The healthcare bill is defined as consisting of: 1) The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590), signed into law on March 23, 2010; and 2) The Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act (H.R. 4872), signed into law on March 30, 2010.
**The Repeal Pledge’s Advisory Board, recognizing the tactic of attaching poison pills to otherwise qualifying legislation, will determine which legislative efforts are legitimate for the purpose of this pledge.