OHIO, USA — A day after defeating Sherrod Brown, Republican Bernie Moreno held a press call Wednesday to further clarify his positions on several issues from abortion to socialism and the CHIPS Act.
Moreno, who says he wants to end socialism, was asked if he plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
“No one is losing their health care, even if you have a preexisting condition,” he said.
Moreno says once he takes office, he wants to improve the ACA to reduce health care costs.
The Republican was also asked if he plans to repeal the CHIPS Act, a major funding source for the Intel project currently under construction in Licking County.
The issue arose when House Speaker Mike Johnson suggested that Republicans may try to repeal it if they win Congress.
“The government has been inept when it come to the disbursement of funds. I can’t foresee a repeal,” Moreno said.
The Senator-elect said he’s going to Washington to change the status quo, including building a wall at the southern border. [REWORK][
“We are going to advance an agenda that is an American agenda and AN agenda that says we are pro-immigration, but not pro-invasion,” he said during his victory speech Tuesday night.
The 57-year-old Republican said he wants to be someone who unites, not divides.
“We cannot continue to divide ourselves and be mad at each other because of political parties,” he said.
One of the topics that separated Moreno from Democrat Sherrod Brown was the stance of abortion.
Brown was a staunch supporter of abortion rights.
Moreno favored banning abortion with no exceptions, but later softened his stance to “common sense restrictions.”
On the call Wednesday with reporters, Moreno said he has no plans to try and make abortion illegal but hopes that one day there will be a 15-week restriction.
“I think one thing we can do to massively reduce abortions in this country is massively improve the lives of Ohioans. If they are doing better economically, they’ll be more apt to have children,” he said.
When it comes to the environment, Moreno said he wants to end electric vehicle mandates and favors an energy policy that relies on oil, gas, coal and nuclear power.
“We are going to make this country an energy-dominant nation so that my kids grow up in a nation where we never have to rely on foreign energy ever again,” he said.
Moreno. who was heavily supported by President-elect Donald Trump, said he plans to work to reduce the national debt, cut federal spending and shrink the size of the federal government.
“What we are going to do is massively scale down the size of the federal government,” he said.
Moreno said during his six-year term, he plans to work for all Ohioans including those who voted against him.
“For the people who didn't vote for me, I will always advocate for you,” he said.