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Three GOP Senators Needed to Defeat Trumpcare


By Stephen Lendman
stephenlendman.org
6-23-17

 
Senate members include 52 Republicans and 48 Democrats.

Three GOP lawmakers are needed to oppose the Senate version of Trumpcare only healthcare industry predators and America’s rich can love. All 48 Dems oppose it.

Written by industry lobbyists, it increases already unaffordable healthcare costs for most Americans, guts vitally needed Medicaid, eliminates Obamacare taxes on business and wealthy Americans, while cutting tax credits for low-income households.

The nation’s poor, elderly, disabled, and others with preexisting condition are harmed the most - a majority of US citizens.

Trumpcare is a thinly veiled scheme to free up funds for greater militarism and warmaking, along with exclusively benefitting business and high-net-worth households at the expense of most others.

House and Senate measures largely replicate each other - a major body blow to social justice if enacted into law.

Three senators can block it. Dean Heller (R. NV) is one on the right side of this issue if he sticks to his guns - no certainty. On Thursday, he issued a press release, saying:

“Throughout the health care debate, I have made clear that I want to make sure the rug is not pulled out from under Nevada or the more than 200,000 Nevadans who received insurance for the first time under Medicaid expansion.”

“At first glance, I have serious concerns about the bill’s impact on the Nevadans who depend on Medicaid.”

“I will read it, share it with Governor Sandoval, and continue to listen to Nevadans to determine the bill’s impact on our state.”

“I will also post it to my website so that any Nevadans who wish to review it can do so.”

“As I have consistently stated, if the bill is good for Nevada, I’ll vote for it and if it’s not - I won’t.”

On Friday, he updated comments made above, saying “I cannot support a piece of legislation that takes insurance away from tens of millions of Americans.”

In (its current) form, I will not support it,” adding: “This bill…is simply not the answer. It’s going to be very difficult to get me to a yes” - leaving himself wiggle room to change his mind under pressure.

So far, five GOP senators expressed opposition to Trumpcare - Heller because of unacceptable benefit cuts, four others wanting tougher ones, including Rand Paul, Ron Johnson, Ted Cruz and Mike Lee.

Heller’s position isn’t an act of conscience. He’s up for reelection next year. Supporting Trumpcare could cost him his seat, what matters most to lawmakers, not public service.

The only way to defeat Trumpcare is by committed grassroots pressure on lawmakers to oppose it.

Without it, the measure is almost certain to become the law of the land.

VISIT MY NEW WEB SITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
 
My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

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