TIME TO START OVER ON HEALTHCARE: IMPROVE—DON’T REPEAL—THE ACA!
Everyone knows how bad Trumpcare 2.0—which barely passed the House on May 4—really is http://politi.co/2qxl…. The CBO score is expected soon, but it is clear the AHCA will gut Medicaid, hurt people with pre-existing conditions as well as women and seniors, weaken essential benefits and give billions in tax breaks to the wealthy. But can the Senate be trusted to do better? We can’t count on it.
–Although they recently opened their meetings to other Republicans http://washex.am/2qwW… , the main Senate Health Care working group is 13 Republican men, including extremists like Ted Cruz committed to making Trumpcare even worse http://washex.am/2qyv….
–Meanwhile, moderate Republicans have their own ideas—but some would take us backwards. http://bit.ly/2qwW6mF… SB 191—the so called “Patient Freedom Act” cosponsored by Susan Collins—would strip many popular ACA protections https://www.congress…. .
And some Dem’s have signaled a willingness to compromise http://politi.co/2pLt… .
Our Oregon MOC’s—except for Greg Walden–have insisted that any new proposal be as good as the ACA—or better.
Senator Merkley held a Portland Health Care event last Friday.
WHERE’S WALDEN?!?
Let ALL our MOC’s know that Trumpcare can’t be fixed. They must start over and improve—not repeal—the ACA.
**ACTION 1: CALL SENATORS MERKLEY AND WYDEN**
SAMPLE SCRIPT:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon. I want to thank Senator [–] for his opposition to attacks on our health care. Right now, it is imperative that any Senate plan scrap the disastrous AHCA, and improve—rather than repeal–the popular ACA. I am asking Senator [–] to say no to compromise, and make sure that no bill passes the Senate unless it is at least as comprehensive as the ACA.”
SENATOR MERKLEY
Bend: (541) 318-1298
Portland: (503) 326-3386
DC: (202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102
Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102
SENATOR WYDEN
Portland: (503) 326-7525
DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555
Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122
Bend: (541) 330-9142
**ACTION 2: CALL CONGRESSMAN WALDEN**
SAMPLE SCRIPT:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon. I am appalled by Congressman Walden’s support for the disastrous ACHA bill which would have stripped health care from thousands of his own constituents. I would like Mr. Walden to show his constituents he cares about their health and their lives. He must call on his Senate colleagues to start over and improve—rather than repeal–the popular ACA.
CONGRESSMAN GREG WALDEN
Medford: (541) 776-4646
Bend: (541) 389-4408
La Grande: (541) 624-2400
DC: (202) 225-6730
Republicans gird for CBO verdict on Obamacare repeal. http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/23/republicans-health-care-cbo-obamacare-238737
