Our Senate Republican overlords just voted to kill Americans who finally have access to health insurance. So much for that whole "pro-life" bullshit line.
Senate Republicans have tried more than a dozen times before to pass legislation to repeal Obamacare, but they could not get the 60 votes needed to overcome Democratic filibusters. In Thursday's vote, Republicans were able to prevent a Democratic filibuster by using a budget procedure known as reconciliation that allowed them to pass the bill with a simple majority.
The bill would gut key sections of the health care law, including the mandate for individuals to buy health insurance and for employers with more than 50 workers to provide it. It eliminates all fines for people and companies that fail to comply with the mandate.
It also would eliminate federal subsidies to about 6 million low- and moderate-income Americans buying their own insurance. And it would halt Obamacare's expansion of Medicaid for the poor, which has been adopted by more than 30 states. Those two provisions would take effect in two years, giving Republicans until after the 2016 election to come up with a new plan to replace the existing program.
I can't even watch the vote, because I'm sure they all celebrated.
Now it will go back to the House, who will surely approve it, before it heads to President Obama's desk for a firm veto.
Remember this day when we're in the general election phase of the 2016 election season and your primary candidate didn't win, whether it is O'Malley, Clinton, or Sanders. Remember it well, because if we allow a Republican to take office, repealing this bill will become reality.
We'll get vouchers for Medicare and lame tax credits for people who can't even afford to pay the exorbitant rates insurers will charge for access to health care.
Keep in mind, they just spent three days on this and then passed it via budget reconciliation, which must have really taken some gyrations to accomplish, given the higher costs repeal will mean to the federal budget. Meanwhile, they have eight days to pass a real budget that doesn't strip Planned Parenthood of their funding and ordinary folks like us of our health care.
Do not forget what they want to do to you and yours. They will not hesitate.
