“Care Force One” Makes Stop in Columbus on National Bus Tour
(Columbus, Ohio) – Today, City Attorney Zach Klein and American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten joined with Ohioans with pre-existing conditions at City Hall to speak out against the devastating repercussions of health care repeal.
The event was part of Protect Our Care’s nationwide bus tour calling attention to Republicans’ attempts to sabotage health care, including a lawsuit that would gut protections for Ohioans with pre-existing conditions.
The 4,830,900 Ohioans living with a pre-existing condition would be in jeopardy if a judge sides with President Trump and the GOP in their lawsuit.
“Since President Trump took office, he has made very clear his intention to dismantle the Affordable Care Act – with not just his words, but his actions, said Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein. “His sabotage of health care for millions of Americans is both cruel and a true dereliction of his constitutional duty as President of the United States.”
Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, said, “Everyone is one pre-existing condition away from bankruptcy. This is about making sure there’s a basic level of health protection for every single of American. We have an obligation to stand up for everyone in this country.”
Klein and Weingarten were also joined by Laura Packard and Ann Wightman, Americans with pre-existing conditions, who shared their stories and talked about the protections provided to them under the Affordable Care Act.
Cancer survivor Laura Packard said, “I am still here today thanks to the ACA. But I need to keep my health care, as do 130 million with pre-existing conditions. That’s why we’re here – to hold people like Senator Portman accountable for their votes to take away our care.”
“Thirteen years after I got sick and lost my health insurance, the ACA made it possible for my family to purchase real health insurance again. But now, Republicans are using every trick in the book to take it away,” said local resident Ann Wightman. “I am sick and I am tired. I am not going to take it anymore. I vow today to do everything that I can to fight this sabotage.”
“The stakes have never been higher for Ohioans’ health care,” said TJ Helmstetter of Protect Our Care. “Since the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, almost 664,000 Ohioans have gained health insurance. This is all in jeopardy due to Republicans’ repeal and sabotage agenda, including their ludicrous lawsuit and Rep. Balderson’s mission to repeal health care. Ohioans want this Republican war on health care to end, plain and simple. That’s why we’re here today.”
You can watch the full video here. The bus now travels to West Virginia before coming back to Cincinnati for an event on Tuesday. More details about upcoming stops can be found here.