According to recent breaking news, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that 23 million more people will be uninsured by 2026 under the Senate’s GOP-drafted health bill.
As MarketWatch reports, a similar bill by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives would result in “23 million fewer Americans having health insurance 10 years from now compared to Obamacare. The House bill would lower the deficit by $119 billion, the CBO had estimated.”
Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) has been one of the most outspoken opponents of the GOP’s plan to repeal Obamacare. “It sells out the middle class. It’s bad for children. It’s bad for seniors. It’s bad for people with disabilities, and it’s a huge giveaway in tax cuts to the super rich,” Casey said during a townhall in Lancaster, Pennsylvania this Saturday.
Last Thursday on Twitter, Casey broke down some of the more disturbing aspects of the Senate bill and included a link to the 142-page piece of legislation, calling it “obscene”:
Going through this disaster of a ‘health care’ plan now. https://t.co/4mbFPR5Fg6
— Senator Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) June 22, 2017
This scheme sells out the middle class, seniors and individuals with disabilities to pay for a tax cut for the wealthy. That’s obscene.
— Senator Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) June 22, 2017
Page 41. They revoke the essential health benefits requirement. pic.twitter.com/1fxrRRrwyg
— Senator Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) June 22, 2017
This means insurance companies are no longer required to cover things like maternity care and emergency services. This will effect everyone.
— Senator Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) June 22, 2017
Page 86. Decimating Medicaid. pic.twitter.com/bRKuoMPCy5
— Senator Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) June 22, 2017
Page 133. They only commit to combating the opioid crisis for a year. As bad as the house version is, at least they committed to 10. pic.twitter.com/Rg725uUY3F
— Senator Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) June 22, 2017
Considering they also cut Medicaid which provides addiction treatment, both versions are woefully inadequate.
— Senator Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) June 22, 2017
Page 29. This one I submit without comment. pic.twitter.com/YlQiEkCHd9
— Senator Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) June 22, 2017
This cuts over $4 billion from the Prevention & Public Health Fund. That’s a cruel joke on those who need preventive care & immunizations. pic.twitter.com/iEPw2Z3Slr
— Senator Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) June 22, 2017
Page 134. Here’s your age tax. House version started the age tax in 2018, Senate waits until 2019. I wonder why that could be. pic.twitter.com/HohquO27TF
— Senator Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) June 22, 2017
Page 135. This allows states to let insurance companies charge you more because of a pre-existing condition. pic.twitter.com/sKXdBNdxsg
— Senator Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) June 22, 2017
Page 30. This essentially subsidizes the bonuses of Health Insurance Executives. pic.twitter.com/Cd2bHVFTyB
— Senator Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) June 22, 2017
This means higher costs before your insurance kicks in, also known as higher deductibles. pic.twitter.com/427Mpa0wfD
— Senator Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) June 22, 2017
During the Saturday townhall, Casey said that the resistance to Trump and the policies of the “extreme right” should stay strong and not be discouraged.
“That’s our system. We’ve got to keep fighting,” he said.
Featured image via Twitter
