See below for a press release from the Democratic Party of Virginia and a new radio ad (by House Majority PAC and Brady PAC, running on radio stations in the Richmond and Fredericksburg markets) ripping Del. Nick Freitas, the Republican nominee for Congress in VA07, for voting against health coverage for Virginia children with autism, and also against improving mental health services in our schools. On 11/3, if you live in VA07, please make sure you reject Freitas and reelect Rep. Abigail Spanberger!
DOUBLING DOWN: Nick Freitas Keeps Defending His Extreme Votes Against Virginians with Autism
Richmond, VA — In a recent video released by his campaign, Delegate Nick Freitas AGAIN attempted to defend his votes to restrict health care access for children with autism, ignoring unanimous agreement among all of his Republican and Democratic colleagues and broad support from the Virginia autism community.
The legislation Freitas opposed garnered wide praise from families and advocacy groups, including the director of the Faison Center in Henrico. Despite this consensus, Freitas is digging in, suggesting he knows better than families of children with autism and every one of his colleagues in the General Assembly.
The bill Freitas criticized requires insurance plans to extend coverage for autism to people of all ages, rather than cutting off coverage at the age of 10. But in his recent video defending the vote, Freitas characterized the bill as a burdensome regulation health insurers shouldn’t have to deal with. He was the single vote in the House of Delegates against this legislation.
Worse yet, Freitas again broke with a near universal consensus across both parties in the General Assembly by opposing legislation that requires insurers provide coverage for autism. Previously, coverage could be denied for diagnosis and treatment, leaving families on their own. Freitas was again the sole vote opposed to this legislation in the House of Delegates.
“As much as he likes to call it a lie, the record is clear: Nick Freitas was the lone vote against laws that have helped thousands of Virginians with autism not once, but twice. For the more than 10,000 Virginians with autism who were denied coverage due to the ridiculously low age cap, votes like the ones Freitas cast mean the difference between receiving the care they need and facing enormous out of pocket medical bills. Instead of spending all of his time recording videos of himself talking, he should listen to the families and advocates who understand the challenges of living with autism,” said DPVA Communications Director Grant Fox.
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