Cassidy starts Senate career by targeting ObamaCare

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) is starting off his career in the upper chamber with a pair of bills aimed at rolling back ObamaCare.

“Repealing Obamacare and replacing it with solutions that give patients the decision making power is my goal. This is one step of many in achieving that goal,” Cassidy wrote in a statement Tuesday announcing the legislation.

One bill, the “No Obamacare Mandate Act,” would repeal the medical device tax, the employer mandate and the individual mandate. All of the measures have been attacked by Republicans, as well as a handful of Republicans.

The second bill, “The Employee Health Care Protection Act,” would allow more leeway in the types of group healthcare plans that are covered under ObamaCare. Cassidy already introduced the bill last September in the House, which passed the legislation along party lines.

The Louisiana Republican, who is also a physician, recently joined the Senate health committee where a majority of ObamaCare-related bills originate.

Cassidy has long promised to repeal the president’s signature healthcare law, touting his opposition to the law on the campaign trail last fall.

His election drew national attention after his race against incumbent Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) escalated into a high-profile December runoff, which Cassidy won handily.