Say NO to the latest Republican plan to repeal the ACA
The U.S. Senate is scheduled to take up healthcare reform legislation this week, that if enacted, could result in as many as 32 million Americans without health care. The Graham-Cassidy proposal would repeal and replace significant portions of the Affordable Care Act and revert to a block grant scheme that would likely reduce spending on healthcare and force state officials to cut back on health coverage or take resources from other critical programs. Here are some key talking points:
- Establishes a per-capita cap on Medicaid
- Ends Medicaid expansion as we know it
- Rolls back protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions
- Ends employer mandates
- Leaves more Vets uninsured
- Children in some states, including Pennsylvania, are at immediate risk of losing coverage
- People over the age of 50 can be charged an unlimited amount for coverage.
- Republicans are pushing a vote before the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office can release a full analysis.
- Another Attempt to Remove Healthcare from Americans (Dr. A. Joseph Layon Op-Ed, Daily-Item)
- Who is For and Against the Senate Obamacare Repeal Bill? (The Hill)
- The Graham-Cassidy Healthcare Bill is a Clear Danger to People with Pre-Existing Conditions (John Cassidy, The New Yorker)
- State by State Estimates of Changes in Federal Federal Spending (Kaiser Family Foundation)
ACTION: CALL SENATOR TOOMEY (202-224-4254) AND TELL HIM TO PUT THE HEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIANS ABOVE HIS POLITICAL PARTY AND VOTE NO! CALL SENATOR CASEY AND THANK HIM ON HIS LEADERSHIP. CONSIDERWRITING A LETTER TO THE EDITOR AND THANKING CASEY PUBLICLY FOR HIS VOTES TO PROTECT OUR HEALTH CARE.
Demand a Responsible and Fair State Budget
Last week, Republican house members in the state legislature put forth one of the most irresponsible budgets that we have seen in recent history. The house budget proposal does nothing to fix the deficit going forward nor does it generate any additional revenue. Instead, it relies on one-time transfers from dedicated funds that are intended for investment in community projects.
The Senate recently passed a bill that does include a severance tax but also includes regulatory provisions that jeopardizes environmental protections of our clean and and water.
We should not sacrifice our clean air and water nor dedicated funds to improve our communities for a balanced budget.
SOME ADDITIONAL READING:
- Pennsylvanians Deserve a Fair and Balanced Budget (Dwayne Heisler Op-Ed, News-Item)
- It’s time for a real severance tax in Pennsylvania (PA Budget & Policy Center)
- The Budget Solutions We Need (Marc Stier, PA Budget & Policy Center)
- Nothing in the Senate $970M Revenue Package for the Environment: Code Bills Riddled with Environmental Riders (PA Environment Digest)
- Environmental Rights: 5 Facts about the Pennsylvania Constitution (John Dernbach, Pennlive)
ACTION: CALL YOUR STATE SENATOR AND TELL THEM TO: PASS A BUDGET WITH RECURRING REVENUE; OPPOSE ANY RAIDS ON SPECIAL FUNDS; SUPPORT A RESPONSIBLE AND FAIR SEVERANCE TAX THAT DOES NOT JEOPARDIZE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS: AND UPHOLD OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TO CLEAN AIR AND WATER.