By Bob
Plain in Rhode Island’s Future
Rather than dismantling Obamacare
through executive orders, Rhode Island’s Congressional delegation urged
President Donald Trump and Republicans to work with Democrats to fix the
Affordable Care Act.
The four Democrats oppose Trump’s
executive orders that would allow for cheaper plans with fewer benefits and
stop subsidies for some poor people’s health care.
Senator Jack Reed called it a
“reckless, desperate act” and implored Republicans to work with Democrats to
fix Obamacare.
Congressman David Cicilline said
“Trump continues to fail” the American people and implored him to work with
Democrats.
Congressman Jim Langevin “strongly
condemn[s] the President’s reckless actions” and urged everyone to work
together to fix health care.
And Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
likened Trump’s tactics to “a reality TV show” and said the President “needs to
put aside the politics and support the effort in Congress to make responsible,
bipartisan changes to our health care system.”
Below are the full statements from
each member of the delegation:
Senator Jack Reed
“This is beyond irresponsible. The
President seems to be carrying out a personal vendetta to destabilize health
insurance markets, raise everyone’s costs, and leave more Americans without
health care. This President is so determined to implode Obamacare that he
doesn’t seem to care about collateral damage to working families. The CBO
has already warned that if President Trump refuses to make these payments, he
will send premiums soaring and increase federal budget deficits by $194 billion
in the coming decade.
"This is a reckless, desperate act and it’s time for
Congressional Republicans in DC to step up and truly join Democrats like me who
have been calling for fixing, not breaking our health insurance system,” Reed
said.
Congressman David Cicilline
The American people are hurting. And
President Trump continues to fail them. This executive order will sabotage the
health care market and drive up costs for working people. The President should
be working with Democrats to make the Affordable Care Act even stronger.
Instead, he’s creating chaos and undermining access. The American people
deserve A Better Deal than this one.”
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
This isn’t a reality TV show; this
is Americans’ health care. It’s clear the President is trying to sabotage the
health care market and send costs soaring, especially for older, sicker
Americans who have no place to turn but the Affordable Care Act. President
Trump needs to stop this shameful chipping away at a health care law tens of
millions of Americans rely on. And he needs to put aside the politics and
support the effort in Congress to make responsible, bipartisan changes to our
health care system.”
Congressman Jim Langevin
I strongly condemn the President’s
reckless actions to destabilize the health insurance market just two and half
weeks before the 2018 open enrollment period begins. The President’s Executive
Order and subsequent decision to abruptly end Cost Sharing Reduction payments
is a one-two punch that will directly affect the affordability of health
coverage for hardworking families. Choking off these payments will drive
up premiums for many Americans already struggling to pay for insurance.
The Administration is sabotaging critical pieces of a law that has provided
millions of people with access to care in a cynical attempt to precipitate a
crisis.
“We should be working together to
strengthen our health care system. That is why I introduced the Individual
Health Insurance Marketplace Improvement Act to lower costs and give consumers
more options. It is high time that Republicans join Democrats in offering
constructive solutions to expand access to health care rather than continuing
their crusade against the Affordable Care Act.”
Bob Plain is the
editor/publisher of Rhode Island's Future. Previously, he's worked as a
reporter for several different news organizations both in Rhode Island and
across the country.