Harris and Pritzker separately tout erasing medical debt

[August 01, 2024]  By Catrina Petersen | The Center Square contributor

(The Center Square) – A state lawmaker said recently passed legislation, touted by the Illinois governor and supported at a national level by the vice president, is just big government trying to provide a ‘solution’ to the problem Democrats created.

The Illinois legislature \passed a Gov. J.B. Pritzker-Supported measure that eliminates medical debt from an individual's credit report.

Democratic presidential candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris recently spoke in favor of eliminating medical debt from individuals' credit reports at a national level.

“We are now making it so medical debt can no longer be included on your credit score. So that medical debt cannot impact a person’s ability to get a car loan, an apartment lease or a home loan,” Harris said while speaking at a rally in Philadelphia.

Illinois state Rep. Adam Niemerg, R-Dieterich, was one of two legislators to vote against the measure at a state level. Niemerg said he thinks the legislation is just the catalyst to implementing universal government healthcare.

“The next step is forgiving all the debt. One is saying it doesn’t have to go on your credit report, two is forgiving all the debt and step three is government-run healthcare. That’s what this is all about,” said Niemerg. “If inflation was lower, property taxes were down, and if Illinois was prospering for the working class people, this [legislation] wouldn’t be needed.”

State Rep. Dan Caulkins, R-Decatur, also voted against Senate Bill 2933. Niemerg said if Pritzker were to become the vice presidential pick for Harris, that would ensure former president and Republican nominee Donald Trump wins the 2024 election.

Niemerg said Pritzker and Harris don’t understand working-class folks.

Kamala Harris | Facebook

"My wife and I are trying to pay bills, a mortgage and save money, we are just normal people. You get Kamala Harris, who is completely detached from reality or Pritzker, who was born a billionaire, telling working class people, like myself, that this is going to help,” he said. “‘We’re going to solve your problem,’ I’m 40-years old and I have yet to see Democrats and big government solve one of my problems.”

Pritzker signed two pieces of legislation aimed at reducing the impact of medical debt on Illinoisans. House Bill 5290, a medical debt forgiveness bill, dedicates approximately $10 million in state taxpayer funding to purchase outstanding Illinois medical debt with the goal of Illinois taxpayers buying nearly $1 billion of medical debt.

“In the coming years, I am proposing we eliminate medical debt for over one million Illinoisans and I am pleased to say that others are joining us in this fight,” said Pritzker. “Eliminating medical debt alleviates stress and increases peoples’ credit scores so they can go out and rent an apartment, or get a credit card and do things they weren’t able to do before.”

Niemerg, who is on the House Insurance Committee, said health insurance companies deal with a ton of government mandates that increase costs. Niemerg also said it’s impossible to save money due to the tax burden in Illinois.

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