These TX Congressmen Just Voted to Repeal Health Care without a Real Replacement
On Monday night, Republican leaders in the U.S. House filed their health care repeal bill.
After a busy week, including votes in two House Committees, the bill now goes to the Budget Committee. The Committee includes two Texans: Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (representing part of Houston) and Rep. Jodey Arrington (representing Lubbock, Abilene, and nearby communities).
Some analysts have summed up the bill as cutting taxes for corporations and wealthy people and cutting health care for millions of other people.
For many Americans, especially those over age 50, the bill makes marketplace insurance more expensive and out of reach. It also eliminates the Medicaid expansion, which Texas still hasn't implemented. And it radically reshapes Medicaid through a "per-capita cap," shifting costs to the states and cutting the Medicaid funding that Texas and others states receive for children, pregnant women, people with disabilities, and seniors. According to an estimate by the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, federal Medicaid funding for this "non-expansion" population would be cut by $116 billion nationwide over the next decade -- a huge cut, though not as large as previously predicted.
The Brookings Institution predicts the Congressional Budget Office will estimate that at least 15 million Americans will lose coverage under the plan. Many of those who maintain their insurance would have more difficulty paying their premiums. And all of us could see higher local taxes to support our community hospitals and health care programs.
For more information on the key provisions of the bill, watch the 13-minute Facebook Live video with the Center for Public Policy Priorities' health care experts and take a look at this summary from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
The plan has been criticized by the far right, Republican Senators from Medicaid expansion states, Democrats, health care providers, and others. However, Congressional leaders are vowing to move quickly, pushing ahead before the Congressional Budget Office estimates the cost of the bill or the number of people who would lose insurance.
And it's not just talk. Early this morning, while most of America slept, the House Ways and Means Committee approved the plan on a party-line vote. The House Energy and Commerce Committee also worked on the bill all night and passed it this afternoon on a party-line vote.
So do not wait another day before you take action! Call your members of Congress today at 1-866-426-2631 and urge them to oppose the plan to shred Medicaid and repeal Obamacare without a true replacement.
The following Texas Congressmen voted FOR the bill in Committee. You can use the health care phone lines we set up to let them know you're disappointed with their vote:
Kevin Brady, 877-218-1338
Sam Johnson, 877-427-4164
Kenny Marchant, 877-444-9237
Joe Barton, 877-251-2865
Michael Burgess, 877-255-4218
Pete Olson, 877-588-3216
Bill Flores, 877-515-7279
The following Texas Congressmen voted AGAINST the bill in Committee. Let them know you appreciate their vote:
Lloyd Doggett, 877-430-6625
Gene Green, 877-687-4968
Thanks for raising your voice today!