Republicans Relentless With ACA Repeal Attempts

Republicans Relentless with ACA Repeal Attempts

by Robert Roach, Jr.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell planned to hold a vote on the Graham-Cassidy bill in late September. Introduced by Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), the legislation was the GOP’s latest attempt at repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

This attack on the ACA was more serious than the previous tries. It included an age tax on older Americans that would have allowed insurers to charge older people five times more for the same coverage. It eliminated protections for people with pre-existing conditions and took away the tax credits allowing middle-income Americans to afford coverage. 

It also would have changed Medicaid to a system of block grants to states, eliminating insurance for the most vulnerable.

While this round of attempts at repeal failed, the many affected groups are not out of the woods. 

Officials with the conservative Koch brothers’ organization have said that they plan to make up to $400 million available in the midterm elections for policy and politics, but they are demanding results in return.

The Koch brothers warned Congress in June that time is running out to push their agenda, including health care reform. Tim Phillips, who heads the Koch network’s political arm, Americans for Prosperity, said that his forces have until about next June to accomplish their goals, before the 2018 elections grind their efforts to a halt.
Fortunately, phone calls by activists to Senators and Governors have worked before to stop their perverse attempts, and they can work again. They may have to.

Robert Roach, Jr. is president of the Alliance for Retired Americans. He was previously General Secretary‐Treasurer of the IAMAW.  For more information, visit www.retiredamericans.org.