That’s how long we have to defeat Trumpcare. Senate Republicans finally released the draft of their health care bill this morning. And guess what? Just like the House version, it takes health care away from millions of Americans just to fund tax cuts for the rich.
Despite promising to start from scratch writing their own bill, Senate Majority Leaders followed the House’s formula almost to a tee. There’s one major exception: The Senate bill makes even deeper cuts to Medicaid over time, resulting in at least 14 million fewer people covered under Medicaid. Like the House bill, millions of people with pre-existing conditions will lose coverage or face catastrophic cost increases. And on top of all that, the Senate bill also ends tax credits for many middle class families.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell released the bill just hours ago, but he’s going to try to jam it through the Senate before the end of next week, so that his colleagues can enjoy their July 4 weekends. That means we have one week to stop this thing.
ACTION OF THE DAY
Stop Trumpcare once and for all. Go to trumpcaretoolkit.org to see which senators are most likely to vote against Trumpcare. And if their lines are busy, that’s ok, you can also click-to- record a voice message, fax, or write a letter to the editor.
They’re counting on us being tired. They’re counting on us not to have the energy to fight back. Let’s prove them wrong. Let’s make sure Americans get to keep their health care!
WHAT’S TRENDING
Pretty Good Imaginations. Last night at a campaign rally in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Trump proposed adding solar panels to the border wall. “Pretty good imagination right? My idea,” he said. He claimed the solar paneled wall will pay for itself and it would make more money the higher it was… At the rally Trump also promised to introduce legislation to block immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for fewer than five years from receiving public assistance. That is already the law. We’re assuming he misspoke and meant to reference something similar to this leaked draft executive order, which would open a new front in the administration’s assault on immigrants.
#SylvilleSmith. The police officer who shot and killed Sylville Smith, a 23-year-old black man, in Milwaukee last year has been acquitted of first-degree reckless homicide. This decision comes just days after the officer who shot and killed Philando Castille was cleared of all charges. Smith’s death is yet another example of the fact that it is far too common for African Americans to be killed by police. And yesterday’s decision is yet another example of the fact that it is far too rare for police officers to be charged—much less convicted—for killing.
Conflicts of Interest. After five months in office, Trump is holding his first re-election fundraiser next week at—you guessed it—the Trump International Hotel. While legal experts say it is not illegal, this is yet another brazen attempt by Trump to promote his brand and his political career at once. And Trump’s conflicts of interest extend far beyond DC. This interactive map details his conflicts of interest in 25 countries around the world.
Qatar. You’ve probably heard about it in the news. You might not be sure what exactly is going on there. Here’s why you should care about what’s happening with the tiny Gulf emirate.
UNDER THE RADAR
North Carolina. Ever since Governor Roy Cooper (D) was elected in November, the Republican-controlled state legislature has been fighting to take away his authority. First, Legislative Republicans stripped Cooper of certain powers, including the Governor’s authority to appoint judges and restore voting rights—two things crucial to improving the state of North Carolina’s democracy. Cooper was forced to take the legislature to court, where many measures aimed at limiting his power have been struck down. But now, North Carolina Republicans are working to make it impossible for the Governor to file suit against unconstitutional laws in the first place. This is not what democracy looks like.
GOOD NEWS
Unlikely Resistance Friends. Meet the bishops, rabbis, and pastors standing up against Trumpcare. Last night, clergy leaders joined a 24-hour vigil to protest repealing the Affordable Care Act in New York’s Columbus Circle. As Pastor Alistair Drummond of West End Presbyterian Church explained, “We are people shaped by our respect for life and the dignity of each human person, how can we not be at the front lines of health care reform?”