Grassley Tells Reporters: Regardless Of ‘Substance,’ Republicans Must Support Health Bill
As the Senate prepares to take up the Graham-Cassidy repeal bill, the DCCC released the following statement calling on Iowa Reps. Rod Blum and David Young to respond to Sen. Chuck Grassley’s comments that Republicans should put politics ahead of the good of their constituents in order to fulfill their campaign promise to repeal the ACA:
“We know where Chuck Grassley stands on the Republicans’ last-ditch attempt to repeal the ACA, so where do Rod Blum and David Young stand?” said DCCC spokesperson Rachel Irwin. “Senator Grassley pointed out numerous reasons to vote against this bill, but will vote for it anyway. Grassley may have been fooled into thinking this repeal is ‘good politics’ for Washington Republicans, but it would be devastating for the American people and Iowa seniors, families and Iowans with pre-existing conditions. Their constituents deserve to know if Reps. Blum and Young will raise premiums and strip away their care in the name of party politics.”
A new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) reveals that this bill is as damaging for hardworking people as the House bill: it would increase costs, gut coverage for pre-existing conditions, and slash funding for Medicaid that helps support rural communities and opioid treatment. The Kaiser Family Foundation found it would allow insurers to charge older Americans up to 5 times more. Outrageously, Republicans are now pushing for a vote on this bill even though the Congressional Budget Office announced yesterday that they will NOT have a full analysis of the repeal for weeks.