Join Democratic Senators in pushing back against the disastrous Republican healthcare bill.
It’s coming down to just a few days — and a few votes. That was the message from Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer to a group of healthcare advocates assembled on an emergency call by Families USA today. In fact, he said, “Do or die weekend is this weekend” in terms of stopping “Trumpcare,” the Republican healthcare bill.
Senator Schumer told us that grassroots support is going to be “make or break” this week. There’s been less outside pressure on the Senate bill than there was on the House version of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) — but the end result would be just as disastrous. The good news is that there are some Republican Senators who are still on the fence about the bill and there is still time to convince them to vote no.
Senate Democrats are united and are doing everything they can to slow down the Senate and call for a more transparent process using procedural rules, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is playing dirty. He’s violating his own principles in order to rush through this terrible legislation with no hearings. Senate Republicans have been working on it in secret because they know it’s terrible — they have good reason to be ashamed. And without a fully transparent process, mostly under the cover of darkness, it’s very likely the bill will be brought to a vote next week, before the July 4th recess.
Senate Democrats are holding a day of action in their states on Friday, June 23, and everyone’s voices are needed to make sure Senate Republicans understand the consequences of taking healthcare away from 23 million people — for making insurance unaffordable and unfair for people with pre-existing conditions, for women, for the elderly, for children — and for wreaking havoc on the healthcare industry, which accounts for one-sixth of the economy.
If you live in one of these states, call your Senator relentlessly. Keep their phones ringing. Show up at their offices. Make your voice heard. These are the Republican Senators who are still on the fence and could be convinced to vote NO on the Senate version of the AHCA:
Sen. Dean Heller (Nevada)
Sen. Susan Collins (Maine)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska)
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (West Virginia)
Sen. Bill Cassidy (Louisiana)
Sen. Jeff Flake (Arizona)
Sen. Cory Gardner (Colorado)
Sen. Rob Portman (Ohio)
Find your Senator’s direct number HERE or call the switchboard at (202) 224-3121. You can also use the switchboard to connect with your Democratic Senator and find out about actions you can take on Friday and through next week to support their efforts to stop this bill.
Tell your Senator that lives literally hang in the balance. If you have a personal story about how the Affordable Care Act (ACA, or Obamacare) helped you — tell them about it. If ACA repeal and the monstrous AHCA would hurt you or your family, tell them about it. Use President Trump’s words against them — remind them that he said the House version of the AHCA is “mean” and the Senate version needs “more heart” — which is putting it mildly. All of the Republican healthcare bills are a cruel punishment for 23 million Americans for the sake of giving the wealthy a tax break. It will destroy lives and hobble the economy for years to come.
Don’t have a story of your own or aren’t sure how to tell is? Share one of the ACA stories I’ve published here in the last few years.
Tell your Senator about the young man whose life was saved by the ACA after he was diagnosed with cancer — but could be facing lifetime limits and unaffordable insurance costs if the AHCA passes.
Tell your Senator about the woman in cancer treatment, who might not be able to afford to continue, leaving her children without one of their parents.
Tell your Senator about the young woman whose mother is pleading for her life, knowing that she’ll likely be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition.
If your Senator is too heartless to care that lives are at stake, make sure they understand that they have no business in public service — and you will make sure they are voted out of office if they vote yes on the AHCA. If your Senator is going to vote no, thank them and ask how you can help their efforts to push back against this terrible law.
Show up. Speak out. There is too much at stake to stop now.
