In Protest Outside of Rep. Lewis’s Office, Minnesotans Urge Congress to Protect Health Care
June 28, 2017
Contact: Kenza Hadj-Moussa, 612-386-9556
National Day of Action Calls Attention to Winners and Losers in GOP Repeal Effort
Burnsville, MN—Minnesotans including TakeAction Minnesota members and state Representative Erin Maye Quade, held a news conference and protest today outside Representative Jason Lewis’s Burnsville office, calling attention to the GOP’s health care repeal and Medicaid cuts. The group underscored the Republican proposal that cuts health care from millions of American families while giving $600 billion in tax breaks to the wealthy and corporations, as part of a national day of action.
GOP Senators are expected to vote on a bill that closely resembles the American Health Care Act (AHCA) before the end of June. The AHCA takes coverage away from 23 million people, increases costs for older people and people with pre-existing conditions, waters down coverage and ends Medicaid as we know it. The AHCA would eliminate health coverage for millions to pay for tax cuts for millionaires. In Minnesota, 251,000 would lose coverage while 5,870 households earning over $1 million would get an average tax break of $31,925.
In addition to tax breaks for wealthy individuals, the AHCA also includes $145 billion over ten years in tax breaks for big insurance companies and $25 billion over ten years in tax breaks for prescription drug companies.
“Tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations add insult to injury. Minnesotans are out here because they are worried about losing health care, pre-existing conditions, and Medicaid cuts,” said David Zaffrann, Health Care Program Manager at TakeAction Minnesota, “They are thinking about their families. Health care is a matter of life and death, but Lewis, Emmer, and Paulsen are not listening.”
Representative Erin May Quade spoke about the impact of Republican plans on Minnesotans enrolled in Medicaid, including seniors, families with children, and people living with disabilities. “Republicans in the U.S. Senate are working behind closed doors on a bill that will impact millions of Americans,” Representative Quade stated. “Medicaid cuts will hit Minnesota. As state lawmakers, we must do everything we can to protect Minnesotans enrolled in public health care. And, as constituents, we must keep calling and raising our voices.”
The AHCA is widely opposed by national organizations including AARP, the American Cancer Society, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Hospital Association, the Catholic Council of Bishops, the March of Dimes. Recent polls confirm that voters also oppose this repeal by a 3 to 1 margin and is the single least popular piece of federal legislation in decades.
“Our message to Senator Franken and Senator Klobuchar?” said Caren Gallagher, an Eagan resident who has been trying to get a hold of Representative Lewis, “Keep fighting.”
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TakeAction Minnesota is a statewide, multi-racial people’s organization. We advance democracy and equity through organizing, political action, and policy campaigns.
