Organizing Jax for Progress
Intended as a rally against Trumpcare, the gathering became a victory celebration of sorts and a reminder that many battles lie ahead even as the Graham-Cassidy healthcare bill was declared dead just hours earlier.
Your Action (all week): Calls to Senator Rubio and Secretary Tom Price
Call #1:
MARCO RUBIO DC : 202 224 3041
Jacksonville: (904) 354-4300
SCRIPT:
Hi, my name is __ and I’m a constituent from_____. I’m calling to express my serious concern about Trump’s intention to let Obamacare fail and put the lives of millions of Americans at risk. I urge Senator Rubio to immediately pass legislation to stabilize the insurance market and ensure the ACA’s cost-sharing subsidies are fully funded. The American people want to see the insurance market fixed, not sabotaged for political gain.
Thank you for your hard work answering the phones.
[IF LEAVING A VOICEMAIL: please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied]
Call #2:
SECRETARY TOM PRICE at the Department of Health and Human Services
202-205-5445
SCRIPT:
Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from _____.
HHS: I’m calling to express my serious concern about Trump’s intention to let Obamacare fail and put the lives of millions of Americans at risk. I urge Secretary Price to continue cost-sharing reduction payments and enforcement of the individual mandate in order to maintain stability in our national insurance market. The American people want to see the insurance market fixed, not sabotaged for political gain.
MORE INFO:
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s plan to repeal the ACA (the “Skinny Repeal”) failed on the Senate floor, 49-51, on July 27th. While he called the downfall of his ongoing efforts to dismantle the ACA “disappointing” and stated that it was time to “move on.” McConnell continued to denounce the ACA and its effectiveness, repeating myths of its instability. The Congressional Republicans’ ability to repeal the ACA may be over, but now the threat of Republican sabotage of the law by undermining its enforcement is still a real possibility. Indeed, Trump has called on Republicans to “let Obamacare fail, it will be a lot easier,” stating, “We’re not going to own it. I’m not going to own it.”
Analyses of the ACA have repeatedly shown that the individual markets are largely functioning well, with cost-sharing subsidies shielding buyers from premium cost increases. However, Trump and the Department of Health and Human Services, led by Tom Price, are taking steps to destabilize these markets. Trump is threatening to withhold insurance payments known as cost-sharing reductions (CSRs), which allow insurers to offer lower-cost individual market plans with lower out-of-pocket costs to low-income consumers. If these payments are discontinued, experts predict, it could collapse the individual insurance market and dissuade insurers from offering plans in the individual marketplace.
The administration could also stop the enforcement of the ACA individual mandate, a provision that ensures younger and healthier people buy insurance. Without this provision, insurance companies would be forced to consider major premium increases, affecting the affordability of insurance for the sick and elderly. Trump issued an executive order discouraging IRS enforcement of this mandate, and the Republican-controlled House Appropriations Committee has included a draft provision in a spending bill to defund the IRS’s mandate enforcement.
Insurance experts and the Congressional Budget Office have all stated that the ACA is stable and not in a so-called death spiral. However, the Trump Administration and Republicans in Congress now appear committed to creating instability for political gain, creating turmoil in the national insurance market and putting the lives of millions of Americans at risk.
RubioNelson
202-224-5274
904-346-4500
Call both your senators and tell Democratic senators to use every tactic available to save the ACA. Tell Republican senators that voting on a bill that affects the lives of all Americans without hearings is absurd. Any bill that torpedos the ACA exchanges and leaves vulnerable Americans without insurance is wrong for the country. It is time for a bipartisan solution.
Republicans failed to get the 60 votes needed for the Senate Trumpcare plan or the 50 votes needed for straight repeal, and will next vote on a so-called “skinny repeal” which would repeal the ACA mandates and some taxes.
“Skinny repeal” would cause a death spiral in the ACA exchanges, leading to almost complete collapse. The CBO issued a score for “skinny repeal” on Wednesday night which found it would result in 16 million losing insurance and premiums rising an additional 20%.
Senators Bob Corker (R-TN) and John Cornyn (R-TX) basically admitted the skinny bill is a “trojan horse” to get to a conference committee with the House, where deep cuts would likely be added to the bill.
Democrats have been adjusting their strategy in response to dynamic events and are ready to either flood the bill with amendments once it is introduced or, if they believe it will be defeated, push for an immediate vote.
Democrats should be thanked for using every possible tactic to defeat the ACA repeal and urged to stay the course. Republicans need to told that any bill that leaves sick and vulnerable Americans without insurance is unacceptable. A high volume of calls is crucial.
Your Script:
This is [NAME] and I’m a constituent in [ZIP].
[IMPORTANT] Describe how the repeal of the ACA would personally impact you, your friends or family.
[Democratic senators] Thank you for using every possible tactic to prevent the repeal of the ACA. Please continue to do everything possible to protect healthcare for the American people.
[Republican senators] It is absurd to do even a “skinny repeal” which will torpedo the ACA exchanges, leave millions of Americans without affordable insurance, and raise rates for everyone else, without hearings.
[Republican senators] Skinny repeal by itself is bad for the country and if passed and reconciled with House bill, is almost certain to be a death sentence for sick and vulnerable Americans.
[Republican senators] It is time to work on bipartisan solution to strengthen and improve the ACA.
