Regional reaction to Senate healthcare bill
Americans were able to a glimpse at the healthcare legislation Senate Republicans had been crafting. A 142-page health care bill that is now the subject of constant debate.
The bill was introduced with no hearings, no amendments, no democratic involvement, which has brought incredible scrutiny from the left. Now, GOP Senate leaders expect a vote before congress heads for recess on July 4th.
On Thursday, Delaware Senator Tom Carper sent a video response to 47abc, highlighting the difference in the process of crafting the Affordable Care Act and the new bill.
"We had bipartisan hearings, bipartisan roundtables, all kinds of meetings and discussions. The bill was on the floor for a week or two, something like 300 amendments were offered to the legislation, over 160 Republican amendments were adopted to legislation. And we're not going to see any of that."
One of the main sticking points of this bill is Medicaid funding. Under the new plan, Medicaid expansion funding from Obamacare would continue until 2021, but would be phased out over the next three years.
Virginia Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement:
"Senate Republicans kept their health care bill completely secret from the American people until the 11th hour, and now we know why. This bill isn't just mean; it's cruel. It would hurt Virginians – particularly seniors, children, people with disabilities, and working families – all to deliver a giant tax break to the wealthiest Americans and shift costs to the states. It slashes Medicaid, hurts the 22,000 Virginians who rely on Planned Parenthood for health care, weakens health benefits, and raises health costs for Virginia's families at a time when we should be working to lower costs. It also shatters President Trump's promises that no one would lose coverage or pay more. Passing this bill would mean less money in thousands of families' pockets in Virginia alone and fewer options for affordable, high-quality health care."
Senator Carper echoed Kaine's sentiments.
"The folks that are going to be hurt most of all are folks in nursing homes, people who depend on Medicaid for a place to live. Some of them are veterans, a lot of them are aunts and uncles and parents or grandparents, that's very very troubling."
Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen said the bill would hurt the eastern shore and rural areas of the country who depend on Medicaid funding. Van Hollen says without that funding, people in need would turn to hospitals without the money to afford care, causing hospitals to go under.
While he admits that Obamacare is not the perfect system, he does not agree with the bill put forth.
"The current healthcare system is not perfect, it needs some fixes. I along with others have put forward some common sense proposals. But blowing up the Affordable Care Act is not the solution."
Republicans argue that a new healthcare law is needed to lower insurance premiums for Americans, and the U.S. chamber of commerce backed that up, saying it would "stabilize crumbling insurance markets and curb premium increases."
Four conservative Senators – Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, Ron Johnson and Mike Lee – have come out saying they oppose the current version. The Senate will need at least 50 votes plus Vice President Pence's approval to pass the bill.
Sentiments on the new bill were fairly split among residents we spoke to on the streets, as some felt the rising premiums in the marketplace make it urgent that there be a change. Others were hesitant, pointing mainly at the secrecy of the bill.
Mary Beckect of Pittsville says her family is a prime reason for a healthcare overhaul, as her 83-year-old father has had to go back to work to pay for his wife's rising medical expenses.
"He makes $500 a week, that's $2000 a month, just so that my mom and pop can keep their house and pay for the medication. It's too much on older people."
She added that the rising medical expenses under Obamacare have caused them to drain their savings.
Bucky Speaks of Frankford says his daughter, a small business owner, owes a lot to Obamacare.
"If they can't prove out and out without hiding and can tell you they can come up with better care then it should stay the way it is."
