Democrats respond to Trumpcare vote

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Democrats around the country have responded to the GOP’s passage of the Trumpcare bill on Thursday. These are press releases from four of them.

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Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on Passage of the American Health Care Act

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement after the House passed the American Health Care Act by a partisan 217 to 213 margin.

“The American Health Care Act (AHCA) is an evil bill that rips healthcare from 24 million Americans while handing $600 billion to the wealthy and big corporations. This heartless legislation allows states to gut essential health benefits that require insurers to provide basic services like maternity care, cancer screenings and mental healthcare.

“The drastic cuts in the Republican repeal plan gut services for children with disabilities, increases costs for cancer patients, steals from seniors and allows insurance companies to price-gouge people with pre-existing conditions.

“Today Republicans’ core values were on full display, demonstrating the disgusting belief that only the rich are worthy of access to healthcare. Losing the lifesaving coverage provided by the Affordable Care Act would be a death sentence for thousands of Americans. I urge Republicans in the Senate to reject this disastrous bill and work with Democrats to improve the Affordable Care Act.”

Cárdenas Slams Trumpcare Passage

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today U.S. Representative Tony Cárdenas released the following statement regarding the Republican passage of their healthcare legislation.

“Today the Republicans voted for a bill that does the exact opposite of what they claim. They claim that it will reduce premiums – it will not. They claim that more people will have healthcare – that is not true. They say that it will protect people with pre-existing conditions – that is a lie. This legislation strips healthcare coverage from 24 million Americans, puts an age-tax on seniors, defunds Planned Parenthood, and gives a massive tax break to millionaires and billionaires. This bill puts us on a road of economic disaster and will hurt working families. “

Rep. Bass on Trumpcare 2.0 Passage: “Know That Our Fight Continues”

WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) issued the following statement on the passage of Trumpcare in the House of Representatives.

“Today, the House of Representatives passed Trumpcare 2.0, forgetting those with pre-existing conditions in favor of a plan that won’t cover substance use treatment, mental health treatment, or maternity care. There’s no way to tell how much this will cost those living in my district, as House Republicans rushed the bill through without a final price score, but we do know that this bill will cost people their lives. The fate of our healthcare now rests in the Senate’s hands to protect hundreds of thousands of Californians and millions more Americans that stand to lose their coverage should the plan become law. Know that despite this setback, our fight continues.”

Congresswoman Kelly Slams AHCA: “It Will Cost Families More While They Get Less”

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-IL), chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust, released this statement following the House vote to strip 24 million Americans of their health insurance:

“I’m extremely disappointed that my colleagues worked so hard to strip 24 million Americans – including 1.15 million Illinoisans – of the everyday peace of mind that comes from having health insurance. This bill is an unmitigated disaster and I’m proud to have stood with patients, healthcare providers, advocates and common sense Republicans in voting ‘NO.’

Instead of working to make healthcare affordable for all, Congressional Republicans gave a tax break to a handful of super rich Americans and left millions more without insurance. Because of this bill, people living with diabetes, arthritis, cancer and asthma are going to have to pay higher premiums – as much as $142,000 more – for worse healthcare. This is absolutely the wrong direction. Once again, President Trump and Speaker Ryan have put partisan politics ahead of the American people.

I’m committed to working with anyone and everyone to make health insurance affordable and accessible for all.”

Top photo is a screen shot from YouTube