Wyoming House Candidates Clash On Health Care [Video]

Wyoming's candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives aren't on the same page when it comes to health care in general and the Affordable Care Act in particular.

All of the Republican candidates except two and both Democratic candidates appeared at a Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce forum Friday morning at the Plains Hotel in Cheyenne.

While topics ranging from the Environmental Protection Agency to the future of F.E. Warren Air Force Base were discussed, perhaps the sharpest contrast between the candidates was seen in the discussion of health care.

Republican candidates without exception said they favor repeal of the ACA, although several did say they want to maintain portability of health care coverage and in some cases other features of the law.

Republican state Rep. Tim Stubson (R-Natrona County) favors retaining coverage of pre-existing medical conditions.

But he says ''The balance of that law is terrible for Wyoming." He said a first step towards improving healthcare would be to allow Wyoming residents to buy insurance in a national marketplace

Stubson's Republican rivals generally want to do away with the law entirely. Candidates such as Liz Cheney, Rex Rammell and Darin Smith said they favor a complete repeal of the law.

Smith said he believes the true goal of the ACA is to force people to accept a single-payer health care system, adding he thinks congress should ''repeal every word" of the law. But Smith did say he thinks people should be able to get coverage for pre-existing conditions and coverage for adult children up to the age of 26, adding that "may be somewhere where government does have a role."

Cheney said the ACA has raised the cost of insurance, restricted healthcare coverage and killed jobs because of its cost to employers. She says the government has to be removed from the equation and free market forces will give patients better care.

Like some of the other candidates, she did says portability in healthcare needs to be maintained while the ACA itself must be repealed.

By contrast, Democratic candidates Charlie Hardy and Ryan Greene say they generally support the ACA while admitting, in Hardy's words "it's not perfect." But Hardy also said he supports the concept of universal health coverage, adding he thinks health care is a right and not a luxury.

Greene likewise thinks changes need to be made to the existing law, but added the law at least provides a system for health care, adding ''it's time we improve the system" rather than completely repealing the law.

Greene also accused congressional Republicans of wasting time with "60 symbolic votes" against the law rather than really trying to improve healthcare.

The candidates are vying to replace Republican Cynthia Lummis as Wyoming's lone representative in the house. Lummis has announced she won't be running for re-election this year after several terms in congress.

Candidates at the forum also commented on the U.S. Supreme Court decision on immigration which was issued on Thursday (see video below).