June 28, 2017 The Call – #ProtectOurCare The Congressional Budget Office issued its score for the Senate healthcare bill (now called the BCRA) on Monday and it was devastating – 22 million additional uninsured. The bill slashes Medicaid, raises health care costs for most, allows states to drop essential benefits (causing pre-existing to be charged huge premiums), cuts coverage for addiction treatment and gives a tax break to the wealthy. Members of the Twitter community shared the faces and stories of their children whose lives and health depend on the ACA, with The Loyal Opposition. We put them into a thread. On Tuesday, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) cancelled a vote on BCRA until after the July 4th break because he didn’t have the votes to pass it. A number of Republican senators have said they do not support the bill in its current form. The delay is a partial victory, but the fight is by no means over. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) warned that, “people have to keep speaking out…and not give up. Because if [we] do, [we] will lose. It is up to the American people to fight back.” Democrats should be urged to use every tactic to defeat the BCRA, including a vote-a-rama. Republicans need to be told that a plan that benefits the wealthy and leaves sick and vulnerable Americans without insurance is unacceptable. A high volume of calls is needed to kill the AHCA and get on with the business of fixing Obamacare. Your Action Call both your senators and tell Democratic senators to stop Senate business/use the Vote-A-Rama to stop approval of the BCRA. Tell Republican senators that a bill that gives tax cuts to the wealthy and leaves sick and vulnerable Americans without insurance is wrong for the country. Talking Points
This is [NAME] and I’m a constituent in [ZIP].
[IMPORTANT] Describe how the BCRA would personally impact you, your friends or family.
[Democrat senators] Trumpcare/BCRA gives the rich a tax break and is a potential death sentence for the poor and disabled. Stall Senate business to prevent its passage. Use the Vote-A-Rama to stop the bill if necessary.
[Republican senators] The draft BCRA is a tax cut for the rich that fails to protect the American people including the poor, the disabled and people with pre-existing conditions.
[Republican senators] Any plan that benefits the wealthy while leaving sick or vulnerable people without insurance is wrong for the American people.