After failing over and over again to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and strip coverage away from millions of Americans, Republicans are giving it another shot before a September 30th procedural deadline. Senators Lindsey Graham, Bill Cassidy, Dean Heller, and Ron Johnson have introduced a new version of Trumpcare that’s even worse than before, and it appears to be gaining momentum. Just like every other version of Trumpcare, Senate Republicans drafted the bill in secret while shutting out Democrats, and they’re gearing up for a vote in the next two weeks.
What would this Trumpcare bill mean for Americans? First, it would cause an estimated 32 million people to lose their health insurance. Second, it would end Medicaid as we know it through block grants and per capita caps. Third, it would gut protections for people with pre-existing conditions. The bill relies on block grants, which aren’t responsive to needs in the market, and the grants represent huge cuts from federal funding for health care, especially Medicaid. For example, Florida alone would lose $2.69 billion in federal funding by 2026. These cuts would cause huge disruptions in the marketplace, in addition to the destabilization caused by eliminating the individual mandate.
Let’s be clear: This bill would hurt all Americans. But some people stand to lose even more. A new study by Rand Corp shows that repealing and replacing the ACA would cause a huge strain on the Department of Veterans Affairs and would “lead to more veterans losing insurance than gained coverage under the ACA.” Fifteen million people with disabilities would see their access to health care change for the worse. And for the millions affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma who are facing new, extreme health care challenges, many will lose access to health care in their most critical time of need.
ACTION OF THE DAY
#ProtectOurCare. With millions of lives on the line, our Trumpcare toolkit is back and better than ever! The vote on Graham-Cassidy could take place in less than two weeks, so it’s crucial we all take action TODAY to make it clear that this new version of Trumpcare is just as harmful as the last ones. Call and tweet and key members of Congress, and use the hashtag, #ProtectOurCare. Check out our explainer video. Then, share the graphic below!
WHAT’S TRENDING
London Attack. Early this morning, a homemade bomb was detonated on a London subway car, injuring at least 22 people. Prime Minister Theresa May said of the bomb that it was “intended to cause significant harm.” Trump used this horrific attack as another chance to promote his odious Muslim ban, which wouldn’t even be effective at preventing terrorism, tweeting, “The travel ban into the United States should be far larger, tougher and more specific-but stupidly, that would not be politically correct!”
Gun Sales Down, Fear Rhetoric Up. Last week, the Guardian reported that gun sales are facing a major slump in the United States, with one of the biggest gun manufacturers experiencing a $100 million drop in sales. This is not necessarily unusual, as gun sales tend to decrease under Republican administrations and vice versa. But the National Rifle Association (NRA) isn’t too happy about these numbers, so they’re trying a new sales approach: scare tactics. A video that they made earlier this year was called “an open call to violence to protect white supremacy.” But despite the backlash, don’t expect the NRA to back down anytime soon. Because for them, dollars in the bank are more important than the truth.
Extreme Weather. Between the hurricanes along the southern border of this country and the wildfires spreading throughout the west, it’s clear that climate change is having a huge impact on the weather that we are experiencing. Yet, the Trump administration continues to reject science and cut crucial spending that could help prevent some of the worst effects of climate change. Check out the Center for American Progress’s latest video on extreme weather and climate change. Then, go to IAmStillIn.org and sign the petition to make it clear that you believe in science and you support action on climate change!
UNDER THE RADAR
Citizenship. Senator Lindsey Graham has proposed a new amendment (SA 1047) that would allow the Department of Homeland Security to strip a person of their citizenship if they are “accused of providing material support to or engaging in acts of terrorism on behalf of a foreign terrorist organization or state.” The problem? The amendment would not require any proof, trial, or even due process, meaning that the Secretary of Homeland Security would have complete discretion and control over the decision to revoke someone’s citizenship. The Government Affairs Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said of the amendment, “Citizenship is a right, not a privilege to be taken away without due process and based on unproven accusations.”