2018: Ernst Effectively Voted To Prohibit Washington, D.C. From Enforcing Its Own Individual Mandate Health Insurance Requirements. In August 2018, Ernst effectively voted for an amendment that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “prohibit[ed] the District of Columbia from using funds appropriated by the bill to enforce certain health insurance requirements.” The underlying bill was an FY 2019 Appropriations bill for Interior, Environment, Financial Services, Agriculture, Transportation, and HUD. The vote was on a motion to table the amendment. The Senate agreed to the motion, thereby effectively killing the amendment, by a vote of 54 to 44. [Senate Vote 179, 8/1/18; Congressional Quarterly, 8/1/18; Congressional Actions, S. Amdt. 3402; Congressional Actions, S. Amdt. 3399; Congressional Actions, H.R. 6147]
2018: Ernst Voted For A February 2018 Two-Year Budget Deal Which, Among Other Things, Increased Spending By $300 Billion, Suspended The Debt Ceiling, Reauthorized Community Health Centers For Two Years And Repealed The Independent Payment Advisory Board. In February 2018, Ernst voted for a two-year budget deal that re-opened the government after a brief shutdown. According to the New York Times, “With Mr. Trump’s signature, the government will reopen before many Americans were aware it had closed, with a deal that includes about $300 billion in additional funds over two years for military and nonmilitary programs, almost $90 billion in disaster relief in response to last year’s hurricanes and wildfires, and a higher statutory debt ceiling.” In addition, according to Congressional Quarterly, the legislation “would provide funding for federal government operations and services at current levels through March 23, 2018 […] [and] retroactively extends numerous tax breaks that expired at the end of 2016. It also extends the CHIP program for another four years (through FY 2027) and funds community health centers for another two years.” The vote was on a motion concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment with an Amendment. The Senate agreed to the motion by a vote of 71 to 28, essentially passing the bill. The House later passed the legislation. President Trump later signed the bill into law. [Senate Vote 31, 2/9/18; New York Times, 2/8/18; Congressional Quarterly, 2/9/18; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1892]
2018: Ernst Effectively Voted Against A February 2018 Two-Year Budget Deal Which, Among Other Things, Increased Spending By $300 Billion, Suspended The Debt Ceiling, Reauthorized Community Health Centers For Two Years And Repealed The Independent Payment Advisory Board. In February 2018, Ernst effectively voted against a two-year budget deal that re-opened the government after a brief shutdown. According to the New York Times, “With Mr. Trump’s signature, the government will reopen before many Americans were aware it had closed, with a deal that includes about $300 billion in additional funds over two years for military and nonmilitary programs, almost $90 billion in disaster relief in response to last year’s hurricanes and wildfires, and a higher statutory debt ceiling.” In addition, according to Congressional Quarterly, the legislation “would provide funding for federal government operations and services at current levels through March 23, 2018 […] [and] retroactively extends numerous tax breaks that expired at the end of 2016. It also extends the CHIP program for another four years (through FY 2027) and funds community health centers for another two years.” The vote was on a motion to invoke cloture. The Senate agreed to the motion by a vote of 73 to 26. The Senate later passed the legislation, as did the House. President Trump later signed the bill into law. [Senate Vote 30, 2/9/18; New York Times, 2/8/18; Congressional Quarterly, 2/9/18; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1892]
2017: Ernst Voted For The Final Version Of Trump’s Tax Reform Plan, Which Substantially Cut Taxes For Rich Americans And Corporations, And Repealed The Individual Mandate. In December 2017, Ernst voted for the Tax Cut and Jobs Act, also known as Trump’s tax reform bill. According to Congressional Quarterly, “This Conference Summary deals with the conference report on HR 1, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which the House will consider Tuesday. The agreement significantly cuts corporate and individual taxes and seeks to simply the tax code, although most individual tax provisions would expire after 2025. It reduces the corporate tax from 35% to 21% and reduces taxation of so-called ‘pass-through’ businesses where profits are taxed at the individual rate. For corporate taxes it also establishes a ‘territorial’ tax system that exempts most overseas income from U.S. taxation. Most individual tax rate rates would be reduced, including by dropping the top rate from 39.6% to 37%, and it eliminates personal exemptions but nearly doubles the standard deduction so fewer taxpayers will itemize deductions.” The vote was on a motion to recede from the Senate version of the bill and agree concur with a further amendment, essentially on passage. The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 51 to 48. The House later agreed to the modified version of the bill. President Trump signed the bill into law. [Senate Vote 323, 12/20/17; Congressional Quarterly, 12/18/17; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1]
2017: Ernst Voted For The Senate GOP’s Tax Reform Bill, Which Substantially Cut Taxes For Corporations And The Rich, And Repealed The Individual Mandate. In December 2017, Ernst voted for the Senate’s version of Trump’s tax reform bill. According to Congressional Quarterly, “Passage of the bill, as amended, that would revise the federal income tax system by lowering individual and corporate tax rates, repealing various deductions through 2025, specifically by eliminating the deduction for state and local income taxes through 2025, increasing the deduction for pass-through entities and raising the child tax credit through 2025. It would also open parts of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling.” The vote was on passage. The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 51 to 49. President Trump later signed an amended version of the bill into law. [Senate Vote 303, 12/2/17; Congressional Quarterly, 12/2/17; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1]
2017: Ernst Voted For Adding Reconciliation Instructions Allowing Repeal Of The Affordable Care Act To The Budget Resolution Setting Up Tax Reform. In October 2017, Ernst voted for an amendment that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “modif[ied] the Senate reconciliation instructions to require the Senate Health, Labor, and Pensions Committee, the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to report legislation within each committee’s jurisdiction that would reduce the deficit by no less than $1 million from fiscal 2018 to fiscal 2027.” The underlying legislation was the FY 2018 Senate budget resolution that set up reconciliation instructions for tax reform. The vote was on the amendment. The Senate rejected the amendment by a vote of 33 to 66. [Senate Vote 238, 10/19/17; Congressional Quarterly, 10/19/17; Congressional Actions, S. Amdt. 1277; Congressional Actions, S. Amdt. 1116; Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res. 71]
2017: Ernst Voted For The So Called “Skinny Repeal” Version Of Trumpcare Which Among Other Things, Repealed The Individual Mandate, Repealed The Employer Mandate Through 2024 And Defunded Planned Parenthood For One Year. In July 2017, Ernst voted for the Health Care Freedom Act, also known as “skinny repeal.” According to Congressional Quarterly, the amendment would have “repeal[ed] the individual mandate, repeal[ed] the employer mandate through 2024, delay[ed] the implementation of the medical device tax through 2020, and block[ed], for one year, federal funding from going to certain medical providers that provide abortions. The amendment would [have] ease[d] the waiver process for states to opt out of the requirement that their health insurance providers include certain benefits on their health care plans. Additionally, the amendment would [have] increase[d] the maximum allowable contribution to health savings accounts and would defund the Prevention and Public Health Fund starting in 2019.” The vote was on the amendment. The Senate rejected the amendment by a vote of 49 to 51. [Senate Vote 179, 7/28/17; Congressional Quarterly, 7/28/17; Congressional Actions, S. Amdt. 667; Congressional Actions, S. Amdt. 267; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1628]
2017: Ernst Voted For A “Repeal And Delay” Version Of Trumpcare That Would Have Repealed Significant Portions Of The Affordable Care Act, Such As Sunsetting The Medicaid Expansion, Repealing The Individual Mandate And Defunded Planned Parenthood. In July 2017, Ernst voted for the Obamacare Repeal Reconciliation Act of 2017. According to Congressional Quarterly, the legislation would have “sunset Medicaid expansion and certain taxes created under the 2010 health care overhaul, repeal[ed] the individual and employer mandates, would [have] exclude[d] health plans that cover abortion from certain tax credits and would [have] ban[ned] federal funding for abortion providers that receive at least $1 million in federal funding annually.” The underlying legislation was the reconciliation vehicle for Trumpcare. The Senate rejected the amendment by a vote of 45 to 55. [Senate Vote 169, 7/26/17; Congressional Quarterly, 7/25/17; Congressional Actions, S. Amdt. 271; Congressional Actions, S. Amdt. 267; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1628]
2017: Ernst Effectively Voted For The Better Care Reconciliation Act, Which Repealed Significant Portions Of The Affordable Care Act, Resulting In 22 Million Additional Americans Without Insurance. In July 2017, Ernst effectively voted for the Better Care Reconciliation Act. According to Congressional Quarterly, the legislation would have “repeal[ed] extensive provisions of the 2010 health care overhaul, including: the individual and employer mandates, the optional Medicaid expansion, subsidies given to individuals buying health insurance and some of the taxes that fund the law. It would [have] create[d] a health care tax credit based on income and age, and would [have] authorize[d] money to stabilize the health care market and for high-risk individuals.” The vote was on a motion to waive all applicable sections of the budget act with respect to a point of order, requiring 60 affirmative votes. The Senate rejected the motion, thereby defeating the legislation, by a vote of 43 to 57. [Senate Vote 168, 7/25/17; Congressional Quarterly, 7/25/17; Congressional Actions, S. Amdt. 270; Congressional Actions, S. Amdt. 267; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1628]
2017: Ernst Voted To Proceed To Trumpcare, Where The Goal Would Be Repealing The Affordable Care Act. In July 2017, Ernst voted for a motion that would have proceeded to 20 hours of debate and a vote towards passing Trumpcare and repealing the portions of the ACA. The vote was on a motion to proceed. The Senate agreed to the motion by a vote of 50 to 50 with Vice President Pence casting the tie breaking vote in favor. The Senate was not able to agree to final legislation. [Senate Vote 167, 7/25/17; Congressional Quarterly, 7/25/17; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1628]
2017: Ernst Voted For A Budget Resolution Designed To Begin The Process Of Repealing The Affordable Care Act, Which Also Assumes A $9 Trillion Increase In The Federal Debt Over The Next Ten Years. In January 2017, Ernst voted for a budget resolution designed to begin reconciliation instructions to repeal the Affordable Care Act. According to Congressional Quarterly, “the proposed 10-year spending framework culminates in a $1 trillion annual deficit and adds about $9 trillion to the national debt.” The vote was on passage. The Senate passed the budget resolution by a vote of 51 to 48. The House later passed the resolution. [Senate Vote 26, 1/12/17; Congressional Quarterly, 1/4/17; Congressional Actions, S. Con. Res. 3]
2017: Ernst Effectively Voted Against Requiring 60 Votes To Consider Legislation That Would Increase The Number Of Uninsured Americans. In January 2017, Ernst voted against waiving a point of order against an amendment that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “ban[ed] legislation from being considered in the Senate that the Congressional Budget Office certifies would increase the number of uninsured Americans, decrease Medicaid enrollment in states that expanded Medicaid, or increase the required state share of Medicaid spending. The ban would be waived by a three-fifths vote of the Senate.” The underlying legislation was an FY 2017 budget resolution designed to being the process of repealing the Affordable Care Act, which could be passed by a majority vote. The vote was on a motion to waive the budget act in relation to the amendment. The vote required a three-fifths vote for approval. The Senate rejected the amendment by a vote of 48 to 50. [Senate Vote 18, 1/11/17; Congressional Quarterly, 1/11/17; Vox, 1/3/07; Congressional Actions, S. Amdt. 83; Congressional Actions, S. Con. Res. 3]
2017: Ernst Effectively Voted Against Requiring 60 Votes To Consider Legislation That Would Reduce Health Insurance Access Based On Occupations, Unless The New Legislation Offers Comparable Benefits. In January 2017, Ernst voted against waiving a point of order against an amendment that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “ban[ed] legislation from being considered in the Senate that would reduce health insurance access to individuals based on their occupations, unless legislation provides comparable benefits. The ban would be waived by a three-fifths vote of the Senate.” The underlying legislation was an FY 2017 budget resolution designed to being the process of repealing the Affordable Care Act, which could be passed by a majority vote. The vote was on a motion to waive the budget act in relation to the amendment. The vote required a three-fifths vote for approval. The Senate rejected the motion by a vote of 48 to 50. [Senate Vote 8, 1/11/17; Congressional Quarterly, 1/11/17; Vox, 1/3/07; Congressional Actions, S. Amdt. 60; Congressional Actions, S. Con. Res. 3]
2017: Ernst Effectively Voted Against Creating A Senate Point Of Order Preventing Legislation From Being Considered If It Would Increase Health Care Premiums Or Out-Of-Pocket Costs. In January 2017, Ernst effectively voted against an amendment that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “prevent[ed] the Senate from taking up legislation that would raise health insurance premiums or out-of-pocket costs. ‘The purpose ... would be to create an order for the purpose of any legislation that would strip Americans of health insurance coverage, make health insurance more expensive or reduce the quality of health coverage,’ Sen. Tim Kaine said during a floor speech.” The underlying legislation was an FY 2017 budget resolution designed to being the process of repealing the Affordable Care Act. The vote was on a motion to waive the budget act with respect to the amendment. The Senate rejected the motion by a vote of 48 to 52. [Senate Vote 2, 1/5/17; Congressional Quarterly, 1/5/17; Congressional Actions, S. Amdt. 8; Congressional Actions, S. Con. Res. 3]
2017: Ernst Effectively Voted For A Budget Resolution Designed To Begin The Process Of Repealing The Affordable Care Act. In January 2017, Ernst effectively voted for a budget resolution designed to begin reconciliation instructions to repeal the Affordable Care Act. According to Congressional Quarterly, “The Senate on Wednesday voted 51-48 to move ahead in debating a fiscal 2017 budget resolution that would include reconciliation instructions repealing the 2010 health care law (PL 111-148, PL 111-152).” The vote was on a motion to proceed. The Senate agreed to the motion by a vote of 51 to 48. The Senate later passed the resolution. The House also later agreed to the resolution. [Senate Vote 1, 1/4/17; Congressional Quarterly, 1/4/17; Congressional Actions, S. Con. Res. 3]
2015: Ernst Voted For A Bill That Repealed Portions Of The Affordable Care Act, Including Eliminating The Act’s Medicaid Expansion In 2018. In December 2015, Ernst voted for a bill that according to Congressional Quarterly, would have “scrap[ed] in 2018 the law’s Medicaid expansion, as well as subsidies to help individuals buy coverage through the insurance exchanges.” Additionally, according to Congressional Quarterly the bill would have “repeal[ed] portions of the 2010 health care law and block[ed] federal funding for Planned Parenthood for one year. As amended, the bill would zero-out the law’s penalties for noncompliance with the law’s requirements for most individuals to obtain health coverage and employers to offer health insurance.” The vote was on passage of a reconciliation bill. The Senate approved the bill by a vote of 52 to 47. The bill was later passed by the full Congress, which the president then vetoed. The House was not able to override the veto. [Senate Vote 329, 12/3/15; Congressional Quarterly, 12/3/15; Real Clear Politics, 12/4/15 Congressional Actions, H.R. 3762]
2015: Ernst Effectively Voted To Repeal The Affordable Care Act. In July 2015, Ernst effectively voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. According to Congressional Quarterly, the vote was on a “Motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on [the amendment] […] that would repeal the 2010 health care law.” The underlying bill was a three-year highway funding bill. The vote was on a motion to invoke cloture. The Senate rejected the motion 49 to 43; 60 Senators voting yes would have been required to invoke cloture. [Senate Vote 253, 7/26/15; Congressional Quarterly, 7/26/15; The Hill, 7/26/15; Congressional Actions, S. 2328; Congressional Actions, S. Amdt. 2327; Congressional Actions, S. Amdt. 2266; Congressional Actions, H.R. 22]
2015: Ernst Voted To Repeal The Affordable Care Act, As Part Of The FY 2016 Conference Report Budget Resolution. In May 2015, Ernst voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act as part of the FY 2016 Conference Report budget resolution. According to Congressional Quarterly, “Adoption of the conference report on the concurrent resolution that would reduce spending by $5.3 trillion over the next 10 years, including $2 trillion in reductions from repeal of the 2010 health care overhaul.” The vote was on the Conference Report; the Conference Report, which also passed the House, was passed by a vote of 51 to 48. [Senate Vote 171, 5/5/15; Congressional Quarterly, 5/5/15; Congressional Actions, S. Con. Res. 11]
2015: Ernst Voted To Repeal The Affordable Care Act’s Individual Mandate. In April 2015, Ernst voted for an amendment that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “ repeal[ed] the individual mandate under the 2010 healthcare overhaul.” The underlying legislation would have permanently fixed the ‘doc fix.’ The vote was on the amendment, which required 60 votes for passage. The Senate rejected the amendment by a vote of 54 to 45. [Senate Vote 137, 4/14/15; Congressional Quarterly, 4/14/15; Congressional Actions, S. Amdt. 1114; Congressional Actions, H.R. 2]
2015: Ernst Voted To Repeal The Affordable Care Act, As Part Of The Senate’s FY 2016 Budget Resolution. In March 2015, Ernst voted for the Senate’s FY 2016 budget resolution, which, according to the Senate Budget Committee, included provisions that “provide[] for the repeal of Obamacare and support[] legislation to replace Obamacare with reserve funds for legislation that strengthens the doctor-patient relationship, expands choice, and lowers health care costs.” The Senate adopted the budget resolution by a vote of 52 to 46. A final budget resolution included the policy. [Senate Vote 135, 3/27/15; Senate Budget Committee, 3/18/15; Congressional Quarterly, 4/30/15; S. Con. Res. 11, 4/7/15; Congressional Actions, S. Con. Res. 11]
After The Skinny Repeal Failed, Ernst Said She Was Not Ready To Give Up On Repealing Obamacare, Saying “We Don’t Have The Option To Sit Back And Do Nothing; Iowans Are Demanding Relief From Obamacare.” According to Des Moines Register, “Ernst said Friday she’s also not ready to give up on repealing the Affordable Care Act. ‘We don’t have the option to sit back and do nothing; Iowans are demanding relief from Obamacare,’ she wrote in a statement released by her staff. ‘I am disappointed that the Senate was unable to advance important changes to this flawed law. We must now continue to find ways to work on behalf of Iowans and the American people who have been negatively impacted by Obamacare to find affordable, patient-centered solutions that work for them.’” [Des Moines Register, 7/28/17]
Ernst Said Repealing Obamacare Would Be “Very Hard,” But Believed Conversations Were Needed To Explore How “We Move It Forward.” According to HuffPost, “Republicans said this week that they’re open to taking another shot at replacing the health care law, as President Donald Trump suggested, but they’d like the White House to take the lead in coming up with a viable alternative. […] Still, Republicans insisted on Wednesday that making another run at repealing Obamacare was a matter worth discussing even though it would prove more difficult this year than it did when they controlled both houses of Congress. ‘It would be very hard. That’s all pie in the sky,’ said Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), adding that conversations were needed to explore how ‘we move it forward.’” [HuffPost, 3/27/19]
Ernst Said She Was Disappointed That Congress Failed To Repeal And Replace Obamacare, But Was Willing To Move Forward On “Critical Short-Term Fixes.” According to a Des Moines Register op-ed by Kathie Obradovich, “Sen. Joni Ernst said Friday that while she’s disappointed in the failure to repeal and replace Obamacare, she’s willing to move forward on ‘critical short-term fixes’ to shore up the individual insurance market. Iowa has been under threat of losing all of its individual health insurers. Although some, including President Trump, have suggested letting the existing system collapse, Ernst adamantly disagrees. ‘The system is failing but that doesn’t mean we should fail our constituents,’ she said.” [Kathie Obradovich Op-Ed – Des Moines Register, 8/5/17]
2017: Ernst Sent A Letter To Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Calling For Him To Press Ahead On Repealing And Replacing Obamacare: “It Is Imperative That The Results Of Last Week, And Months Of Work Leading Up To It, Are Not The End Of Our Efforts.” According to Office of Sen. Joni Ernst, “Today, U.S Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) sent a letter to U.S Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell calling for him to press ahead on repealing and replacing ObamaCare. […] The Iowa Senator continued: ‘It is imperative that the results of last week, and months of work leading up to it, are not the end of our efforts. Rather, we still must work as hard as we can to repeal this failed law and ensure people have access to affordable, patient-centered health care.’” [Office of Sen. Joni Ernst, Press Release, 8/1/17]
Ernst Voted Against The Inflation Reduction Act Which Capped The Price Of Insulin. According to the Des Moines Register, “Iowa Republican U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst joined every other Republican in opposing the final legislation Sunday afternoon. And although seven Republicans voted with Democrats to preserve the legislation's $35 insulin cap, Grassley and Ernst opposed that as well.” [Des Moines Register, 8/8/22]