Keep Calling!
What may happen
next in Congress?
Because it’s not likely that Sen. McConnell will get the votes for a full repeal, there’s an emerging alternative path described as “skinny repeal.” But a more apt description is the Trojan Horse.
The Trojan Horse could be a short bill that only repeals the individual and employer mandates and the medical device tax – a bill that could potentially garner 50 Republican Senate votes. The point would be to use this vehicle to get into a conference committee with the House Republicans and effectively write the ACA repeal bill there behind closed doors. This would result in an even less transparent process that could lead to an even more harmful bill.
If this were to pass, it would allow Congressional Republicans to craft a full repeal bill in a conference committee and then bring it back to the Senate with "fast track" protections – limited debate and no amendments.
The numerous versions of ACA repeal all do the same thing. They would:
• End Medicaid as we know it;
• Take away health care from at least 22 million Americans, almost all working families;
• Eliminate Medicaid expansion for nearly 500,000 Kentuckians;
• Double health insurance premiums by 2026;
• Roll back vital consumer protections including those for people with pre-existing conditions; and
• Give millionaires more than $50,000 per year in tax breaks.
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We are Kentuckians. We believe all people deserve high-quality health care. We are deeply troubled by efforts to undo the Affordable Care Act and undermine Medicaid. Our lives are on the line.
On Tuesday, led by Senator McConnell and Senator Paul, the U.S. Senate narrowly passed a motion to begin debate of legislation to dismantle or repeal the Affordable Care Act, a key hurdle in the Congressional process of passing legislation. Late last night and again today, votes on versions of a GOP repeal bill failed.
We expect more votes on various versions of ACA repeal throughout the week. It's important to remember that there are no acceptable options on the table. Republicans are offering no "replacement" bill, only a shredded ACA (see the chart below).
Take Action
- Keep calling! Call (844) 432-0883 and tell Senators McConnell and Paul that Kentuckians deserve high-quality health care.
- Join in the national day of action, this Saturday, July 29. Kentuckians are standing up because our lives are on the line.
Rally For Health Care:
Our Lives Are On The Line
Saturday, July 29
11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Coal Run City Park
(81 Church Street, Pikeville)
This is KFTC’s health care rally in Pikeville with the Kentucky Equal Justice Center, United Steelworkers Local 14581 and others. Everyone is welcome to this important family-friendly event to show that Kentuckians, and especially people in eastern Kentucky, want health care for all people.
No matter what happens to health care proposals in Congress, this is an important time to show that Kentuckians want quality, affordable health care for all people. The rallies are one way to show strong public support for strengthening Medicaid and Medicare and for improving, not gutting, the Affordable Care Act, and to build our base. The continued phone calls are a way to let McConnell and Paul know we will not go away, back down or forget.
