Community calls on Reps. Tenney, Katko, Stefanik to reject Graham-Cassidy repeal bill
Central New York residents rallied today to urge Reps. Tenney, Katko and Stefanik to oppose the latest attempt to repeal key provisions of the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid. The new repeal bill, which is being called Graham-Cassidy, would cut Medicaid funding and strip health care coverage from millions of New Yorkers, including thousands of families in the Central New York region.
Organizers are urging local residents to call their members of Congress at 844-898-1199 and urge them to stop healthcare repeal. The development of Graham-Cassidy has taken place behind closed doors, under the same shroud of secrecy as past repeal bills. It could pass the Senate in a matter of days and head to the House for an up or down vote. The rally was sponsored by the Central New York Citizen Action, Citizen Action of New York, 1199SEIU, and Indivisible Mohawk Valley. Over 40 people attended the rally this afternoon at Oneida Square in Utica.
“This bill hurts our kids, people with disabilities, and women,” said Diane Berry, member of the Board of Central New York Citizen Action. “It will close hospitals and kill jobs in the region. Our representatives in Congress need to listen to their constituents and vote ‘no’ on this disastrous health care bill.”
“Many of my family members would lose their health coverage under this bill. No one should have to choose between going to the doctor or paying their rent,” said Tasha Cooper, 1199 SEEIU delegate. “We need to move in the opposite direction and pass universal health care, not cut what we already have.”
While CBO hasn’t yet scored the Graham-Cassidy plan, it’s clear that the plan would take coverage from tens of millions of people.
- The plan’s effects would be identical to the earlier Senate repeal bill, causing 15 million people to become uninsured next year and driving up premiums by 20 percent.
- New York State would lose $19 billion in health care funding.
- By 2027, the plan would cause 32 million or more people to lose coverage, just like earlier plans to repeal the ACA. Once its block grant funding ends, the Cassidy-Graham proposal is virtually identical to those plans, except that it also cuts Medicaid for seniors, people with disabilities, and families with children.
- The ACA’s protections for people with pre-existing conditions would be gutted, making their insurance unaffordable.
For more information, call (315) 725-0974 or email cnycitizenaction@gmail.com. Our website is www.cnycia.org, and Twitter handle is @CNYACT. Find us on FB—Central New York Citizens in Action/Central New York Progressive. Follow us on Instagram: @cny_citizensinaction.