Representative Rodney Frelinghuysen is making waves today with his refusal to say how he’ll vote on the new Republican healthcare plan, even though this plan is even worse than the previous iteration.
Apparently, all it takes to get the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee to potentially sell out his constituents is a late night meeting and some arm-twisting from his party’s leadership, including a rumored threat he’d be removed from his chairmanship.
The major change? Not only would this bill keep all the destructive tenets of the original failed plan—an age tax on older Americans, increased premiums for families, 24 million people kicked off their healthcare—but it would also allow health insurance companies to charge higher premiums to people with pre-existing conditions. As if that weren’t shameful enough, Republicans decided to exempt themselves from the new plan, creating a carve out for members of Congress so they can keep their pre-existing conditions protections.
“Apparently all it takes to get Representative Frelinghuysen to potentially sell out his constituents is a late night meeting and some gentle arm-twisting from Speaker Ryan,” said DCCC Spokesman Evan Lukaske. “That Frelinghuysen is considering voting to allow health insurance companies to hike premiums on people with pre-existing conditions is simply cruel.”