On Donald Trump’s 105th day in office, the GOP has finally passed a bill repealing the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.
The House of Representatives voted 217 to 213 today for the GOP's new health care law. The 45th President believes that this plan will bring down costs for Americans.
“And I think, most importantly, yes, premiums will be coming down. Yes, deductibles will be coming down. But very importantly, it’s a great plan,” the president stated earlier today according to the White House.
Great at giving to the rich and taking from the poor, maybe.
The New York Times reports that the bill cuts Medicaid spending, would allow those with pre-existing conditions to be charged more for insurance, removes subsidies for those just over the poverty line and takes away all of Planned Parenthood’s government funding for one year.
Sounding less than stellar, right?
Here’s the good news: if you make more than $200,000 a year, you’ll pay fewer taxes!
Who would have thought a Trump-approved healthcare bill would make his wallet a little healthier?
In other good news for high earners, the subsidies that Obamacare said people making over $48,000 didn’t need will now be available to people making up to $150,000 a year. And if you own a large company, you no longer have to give your workers access to affordable healthcare.
“We are all breathing a sigh of relief,” Representative Chris Collins of New York said after passing the bill.
“We are all holding our breath in terror,” said all poor, elderly, infirm and female Americans as the House passed the bill.
“Pathetic,” Representative Jim McGovern, a Massachusetts Democrat, said according to the Times, “That is the word to describe this process and this bill.” To his Republican colleagues, he said, “You are taking away essential health care protections.”
Texas Democrat Representative Llyod Doggett accused House Republicans of being willfully ignorant about the consequences this legislation would have, “They know only that the Pied Piper of Trump Tower is playing a tune today, and they must dance.”
Having passed the house, the bill must now pass the Senate. It will probably be modified there, where moderate Republicans are expected to balk at the bill’s Medicaid roll-backs and where Democrats believe the bill will run into trouble with Senate budget rules.
Should a modified bill make it through the Senate, it would then be returned it to the House.
So is Obamacare safe for now?
Well, sort of. It's in the Senate's hands now.
So whether you like the sound of this new health care legislation or not, you should give your senators a call and let them know what you think. Their phone numbers are here, on the Senate website.
