On Friday, the House of Representatives voted to continue the process that could ultimately repeal the Affordable Care Act. Activists across the nation were already planning Day of Action events for Sunday focused on saving our health care, and several will take place in North Carolina. This is an opportunity to make your voice heard.
Nine House Republicans joined Democrats in voting against this next step in the repeal process, and there are enormous questions about how it would even work. There is also growing uneasiness even among those who want to repeal the ACA about doing so with no replacement plan prepared. Along with continued calls to your elected officials, please plan to attend one of Sunday’s rallies.
ASHEVILLE
New Mountain AVL, 38 North French Broad Avenue
1-4 p.m.
CHARLOTTE
Marshall Park, South McDowell and East Third Streets
4 p.m.
Affordable Care Act Community Town Hall
Little Rock, AME Zion Church, 401 North McDowell Street
6 p.m.
RALEIGH
NC Association of Educators, 700 South Salisbury Street
3 p.m.
SYLVA
Jackson County Courthouse Fountain, West Main and Keener Streets
12:30 p.m.
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Wednesday night the U.S. Senate took the first steps to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) without a replacement. Now this bill, which would leave 30 million people without health insurance, moves to the House of Representatives.
Please take a few seconds to call your Representative and tell him/her to speak out for quality, affordable health care. Find contact information for your Congressional Representative here.
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Proponents of providing affordable health care for all want to be sure Congress hears from supporters of the Affordable Care Act. To that end, January 10 has been designated National #ProtectOurCare Call-in Day. Please call Senators Burr and Tillis at 202-224-3121 and encourage them to support the ACA.
A little background from our friends at the NC Justice Center and the National Health Law Program:
The Senate may vote as soon as this week on an ACA repeal budget resolution. By doing this, they would repeal coverage to tens of millions of Americans and increase health care costs to millions more because there is no alternative plan in place. Their actions reflect a rush to destroy the ACA and Medicaid expansion, not care for the humans they are elected to represent.
While the Republican’s repeal bill does not have a replacement plan for the Affordable Care Act, the National Health Law Program explains it does:
- Take insurance from 30 million people, 82 percent of whom are working families.
- Take coverage from tens of millions of individuals of low and moderate income who gained insurance through Medicaid expansion.
- Cause a drastic spike in health care premiums for millions more.
- Give hundreds of billions of dollars in tax breaks to the wealthy, insurance and drug companies while eliminating tax credits for working families.
- Allow large corporations to limit or take away coverage for their workers.
- Double the number of uninsured children in the country.
- Cut funding to Planned Parenthood centers that provide basic and preventative health services for millions of women.
As faithful people who follow one known as the Great Physician, one who healed many and called on us to care for our vulnerable sisters and brothers, our voices are needed on this critical issue. We should be working to expand health coverage, not limit it. This effort, undertaken for the most partisan of reasons, could cost people their lives. Please let Senators Burr and Tillis know you expect them to protect our care.
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