Scared Americans Speak Out as Republicans Sit it Out
It’s not Halloween yet, but things are getting scary for Americans as they are pushed closer and closer to skyrocketing health care premiums amidst a prolonged government shutdown.
Constituents are trying everything possible to get the GOP trifecta to do right by working people. Meanwhile, House Republicans are MIA, Senate Republicans are refusing to vote further on the Democrats’ CR, and the White House is launching illegal RIFs instead of coming to the negotiating table.
It’s all because of the GOP’s choice to block health care tax credits that help working people, just months after they pushed through massive tax cuts for the rich and corporations. Here’s what it looks like on the ground:
VIEW FROM THE STATES
COLORADO: KOAA - Coloradans are about to make “scary” choices if Congress doesn’t act on healthcare
“I am a small business owner. I have been an owner/operator of a business in Colorado Springs since 2019. I buy health insurance for my family of 5 through the Colorado Exchange. My premiums are going to go up by 300%, to over $4,000 per month, per the latest estimate I have received, if the democrats are unsuccessful,” said a KOAA viewer in an email.
IOWA: Quad City News - Protesters at Miller-Meeks, Ernst, Davenport offices: ‘Health care is a human right.’
MICHIGAN: Michigan Advance - No savings for Michigan, only cuts to health care
“A dangerous mismatch between rhetoric and reality... leaving hospitals uncompensated for legally mandated care and shifting those costs onto American families through higher premiums.”
MINNESOTA: WCCO - Constituents gather at Rep. Tom Emmer’s office, protest health cuts
NEW YORK: WHEC - Protestors rally in Rochester Friday afternoon against cuts to healthcare programs
FLORIDA: Florida Phoenix - Democrats warn about Florida’s looming health care crisis
“Florida has more to lose than any other state if Congress doesn’t extend enhanced premium tax credits for so-called Obamacare coverage.”
KENTUCKY: Louisville Public Media - Nearly 100K Kentuckians could see higher health insurance premiums
“For farmers, the self-employed, for small business owners, nonprofits — I work for one — and especially for this new gig economy,” Kremmer said, “those are the people who have really come to rely on these plans.”
IDAHO: Capital Sun - Democratic Idaho legislator calls on Congress to extend health insurance tax credits
“I am overwhelmed with calls from people all over the state who are frustrated and afraid about the things that are happening in their health care,” Wintrow said.
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