Health Care is Top Issue to Voters, Due to Opposition to GOP Sabotage
Coalition that Defeated Repeal One Year Ago Will #RememberInNovember
Washington, D.C. – One year ago today, the American people made possible what many said was impossible: they defeated the number one legislative priority of Republicans and President Trump dating back seven years, the repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Now, 100 days from Election Day, health care is still the issue that matters most to voters.
“Here we are, 100 short days from Election Day, and Americans are as strongly opposed Republicans’ attacks on our health care today as they were one year ago. Nevertheless, Republicans are carrying on their repeal-and-sabotage crusade, no matter the consequences for the American people — let alone their own political prospects. Now begins the time Americans work to hold their representatives accountable for the sabotage that’s raising our health care costs and cutting health care for millions,” said Brad Woodhouse, executive director of Protect Our Care.
This week, Protect Our Care coalitions held events around the country throughout the week to commemorate the hard work that defeated ACA repeal:
In Arizona, health care advocates gathered at Senator John McCain’s office to commemorate the anniversary of his historic “thumbs down” vote against repeal of the Affordable Care Act.
…to highlight #WhatsAtStake for our health if Brett Kavanaugh is confirmed to the Supreme Court:
In Alaska, concerned residents with pre-existing conditions and a faith leader visited Senator Lisa Murkowski’s office to thank her for her vote one year ago to protect their care and urge her to stand up to protect Alaskans’ care again when considering Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court.
In Maine, health care advocates and residents with pre-existing conditions held a press conference outside the state capitol in Augusta to celebrate the ACA repeal failure one year ago and encourage Senator Susan Collins, who cast one of the consequential votes that helped kill repeal last year, to continue protecting access to affordable health care for all Mainers when considering Brett Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court.
In Nevada, health care advocates held a press conference to sound the alarm about the extensive campaign the Trump Administration has undertaken to sabotage healthcare, including the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.
In Pennsylvania, health care advocates joined local residents with pre-existing conditions at a roundtable discussion about how the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court could harm the 5.3 million Pennsylvanians with pre-existing conditions.
In Washington, DC, health care advocates and people with pre-existing conditions were joined by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, Debbie Stabenow and Chris Murphy at a press conference to highlight the threat Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination poses to health care, especially for the 130 million Americans living with pre-existing conditions.
In West Virginia, health care advocates were joined by people with pre-existing conditions at a press conference highlighting ongoing health care sabotage and the threat that Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Court poses for West Virginians.
In Wisconsin, health care advocates and people with pre-existing conditions held a press conference to highlight ongoing health care sabotage and the danger Brett Kavanaugh would pose for Wisconsinites.
… to call on state attorneys general and the Trump Administration to drop their lawsuit to overturn protections in the ACA for women, seniors and people with pre-existing conditions:
Outside Vice President Mike Pence’s closed appearances in North Dakota, health care advocates demonstrated in opposition to the Trump administration and Attorney General Wayne Stenjam’s lawsuit seeking to overturning the Affordable Care Act, as well as Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court.
In Tennessee, health care advocates and people with pre-existing conditions delivered an open letter to TN Attorney General Herbert Slatery signed by hundreds of Tennesseans, demanding that he drop the lawsuit against the ACA and instead work to protect the care of over 2.7 million Tennesseans with pre-existing condition.
In Indiana, a petition signed by more than 600 Hoosiers asked Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill to withdraw from the federal lawsuit, Texas vs. HHS, which could dismantle the consumer protections in the Affordable Care Act. Health care advocates held a press conference as they hand-delivered the petition to Attorney General Hill yesterday.
In Missouri, health care advocates held a press conference to spotlight the threat Attorney General Josh Hawley’s lawsuit to overturn health protections in the ACA poses for Missourians, as well as the dangers of Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Court.
…and to be sure that voters will #RememberinNovember:
In Ohio, health care experts and advocates hosted a community forum at the Lima Public Library to discuss what’s at stake for Ohioans’ health care in this year’s midterm election, the importance of protecting the Affordable Care Act and Ohio’s Medicaid expansion, and how the health care law has helped Ohio communities.