A Statement from Kristen Crowell, Executive Director of Fair Share America, on yesterday’s discharge vote:
Chicago, IL – Fair Share America Executive Director Kristen Crowell released the following statement on yesterday’s discharge petition in the House in favor of a three-year extension of Affordable Care Act premium tax credits in order to keep insurance costs from spiking in the new year:
“Yesterday should have been a rare showing of bipartisan support for working families. A group of House Republicans broke ranks and joined Democrats to try to force a vote on a simple, commonsense solution: a three-year extension of ACA tax credits to stop health insurance costs from skyrocketing for 20 million of Americans next year.
Instead, Republican leadership halted this progress.
After racing earlier this year to pass massive tax handouts for the wealthy and big corporations—without any concern for how to ‘pay for it’—GOP leaders are now claiming they can’t afford to protect families from higher health care costs. That excuse doesn’t pass the laugh test. They found the money when billionaires and CEOs were at the front of the line. Now they’re slamming the door when regular people need relief.
Blocking this support isn’t fiscal responsibility—it’s a failure of leadership and a betrayal of their constituents. Americans across the political spectrum want affordable health care, and many Republican members recognized that reality. Their party leaders are once again choosing ideology and donor interests over the people they were elected to serve.
The consequences of this inaction are all too real: higher premiums and more uninsured families all within the current reality of a cost-of-living crisis. Congressional Republicans own that outcome. Voters will remember who stood in the way when they had the chance to do the right thing.”
Fair Share America has traveled the country to speak directly with people about the impacts of cruel policy decisions in Washington to take away people’s health care, nutrition assistance, and more in order to deliver tax handouts to the rich and corporations.
WATCH “The Big Unequal: Stories from the Road,” our mini-documentary on the remarkable people we’ve met this year while fighting for fair taxes and public services.
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Fair Share America is at the forefront of the fight for tax justice and public investment across the country—mobilizing communities, challenging power, and helping to shape the national narrative from the states. Learn more on our website: www.fairshareusa.org/
