Tag: ACA

This is probably a good time to remind everyone that I am no expert on politics. Is anyone really? I do have a double major in Economics and International Relations but at this point in my life I would call myself a concerned citizen. I truly believe that the passing of the ACA was the best thing that happened for Americans and the healthcare system in the last decade. You could say that universal, quality healthcare is a passion of mine.

Yes, there is room to improve the ACA but not in the way Ryan, the Freedom Caucus or Trump wants. Ryan’s entire identity in the House is based on his opposition to the ACA. What became entirely clear was HIS plan was simply a masquerade for tax breaks for the rich, basically everyone else could go F’ themselves. Here is a clip from March 18, 2017 where he talks about dreaming of the Medicaid cuts he would make since his keg drinking days. Yup…dreams about sticking it to the poor disenfranchised—that about sums his character up.

Trumpcare Timeline (as best as I can put it together):

• The ACA was passed and the Republicans spend the next 7 years trying to repeal it but never manage to positively contribute to changing it or to come up with a better plan.
• Trump runs on campaign platform that promises repeal with replacement of “better healthcare” at lower costs for ALL (yup, that was a big fat alternative truth). ‘“My first day in office, I am going to ask Congress to put a bill on my desk getting rid of this disastrous law and replacing it with reforms that expand choice, freedom, affordability,” said Trump on Oct. 25, a day after he St. Augustine speech, in Sanford, Florida. “You’re going to have such great health care at a tiny fraction of the cost. And it’s going to be so easy.”‘
• The America Health Care Act is introduced but Trump does not want to call it Trumpcare (he distances himself from the get go), so from henceforth we shall refer to it as Trumpcare.
• The bill begins to be known as the “Repeal and go F’ yourself” plan, as the general public starts to catch wind on actually how bad the plan is.
• The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), aka nonpartisan scorekeepers,  releases their analysis of the proposed plan and it is not good. To sum up the highlights: 14 million Americans would lose coverage in the first year, eventually 24 million would be uninsured, and premiums would rise as much as 20% (they would eventually fall over time as more and more Americans were priced out of the market or died [a little nursing humor there]).
• Proposed Federal budget that further promotes the “go F’ yourself” mentality with cuts to crucial social services and other supportive services—with only increases in defense spending, border patrol and immigration services. Many begin to catch on that Trump truly does not care about his fanbase which would be the most hurt by the healthcare repeal and the budget cuts.
• EVERY healthcare agency speaks out against Trumpcare.
• The House does not have the votes and they know it. Thank you, to all the town hall attendees, protesters and citizens for reaching out to your Congressional representatives in support of the ACA. Your contributions are the reason some Republicans broke rank and voted in support of their constituents.
• Despite the fact that the bill was not ready and did not have the votes needed, Ryan, Trump and Republicans push for Thursday vote–the anniversary of the ACA, a final F’ You to Obama and Trump’s “many enemies” aka those who oppose and did not vote for him.
• Instead of making positive changes to improve care for everyone and obtain more support, Ryan doubles down and makes the plan worse for Americans by trying to appeal to the far right Freedom Caucus. There would be no analysis of these proposed changes by the Congressional Budget Office before the vote.Will the moderate Republicans and the Freedom Caucus split? At this point unless the Republicans can separate themselves from the Tea Party, Freedom Caucus, Koch bros, I only see further divide in America. The majority of Americans oppose Trump and definitely oppose the Freedom Caucus (this sounds like another post is needed; I thought the Tea Party would destroy the Republican party long ago).
• Ryan runs to WH to let Trump know they don’t have the votes (first of all, how did he not already know, the writing was on the wall the moment that Trumpcare was introduced).
• Rumor has it Trump wanted to push it to a vote anyway–why? I imagine his vindictive nature wanted a public record of those who opposed—so he could brand them as his enemies. That seems to be a go-to move of his.
• In the end someone must have reasoned with him and explained the bigger picture of the more public loss and the bill was pulled.
• Trump gives press conference and declares the loss “very close” (very close??? What planet is he on?).

• He then goes on to blame the loss on the Democrats saying they had no Democratic support—–uhmmmmm, doesn’t the Republican party control the House and Senate. This is where the discussion about incompetence of the Trump admin typically takes place.
• He then goes on to say, “the best thing we can do politically speaking is to let Obamacare explode”. Yup, there you have it folks–his next move. Do you think he will make necessary changes to the ACA. Do you think he will improve the healthcare system? NOPE, remember narcissists are driven by their vindictive nature….he will let it explode, then he will claim “I told you so.”

I am not gonna lie, yesterday felt like a victory over evil but there is no time to gloat or relax, we must continue to #RESIST.

Enjoy this tweet from Senator Bob Menendez.

Mother of 3

Nurse

Colts Neck, NJ

Resources:

The CBO Deals Paul Ryan’s Health-Care Plan a Major Blow, https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/03/the-cbo-slaps-a-red-card-on-the-republican-repeal-bill/519357/

Fact-checking Trump’s ‘repeal and replace’ Obamacare timeline, http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/fact-checking-trumps-repeal-replace-obamacare-timeline/story?id=46360908

The Health Care Bill Has Failed. Let the Finger Pointing Begin, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/03/24/us/politics/the-health-care-blame-game.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur&_r=0

In Dropping Health Vote, Trump Swallowed Need for a Showdown, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/24/us/politics/trump-white-house-health-care.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=b-lede-package-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news

GOP rep on voting on ObamaCare anniversary: ‘Who cares about that?’, http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/325540-gop-rep-healthcare-bill-negotiations-rushed-too-focused-on-conservatives