Statement on U.S. Senate’s failure to pass Trumpcare

Progress NC Action released the following statement on Friday in response to Senate Republicans’ failure to pass the so-called “Skinny Repeal” version of Trumpcare, which would have eliminated health coverage for 16 million Americans and caused a 20% increase in premiums:

“Senators Thom Tillis and Richard Burr have made a lot of noise about being independent legislators who care about their constituents, but their support for the so-called ‘Skinny Repeal’ version of Trumpcare shows that their high-minded words are nothing but hot air,” said Gerrick Brenner, executive director of Progress NC Action. “Late-night votes on bills crafted in secret and released minutes before the vote might be commonplace in North Carolina, but the American people deserve better. Senators Tillis and Burr should be ashamed of themselves for supporting Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell’s failed attempt to demolish the American health care system, especially after Tillis and Burr refused to hold a single town hall meeting with their constituents. North Carolina voters will remember the disregard their senators have shown for them, and voters will hold them accountable.”

“Despite their complete control of government, Republicans have shown themselves completely unable to govern,” added Brenner. “Instead, they have waged a seven-year campaign to sabotage the Affordable Care Act, which will only get worse after yesterday’s defeat. Most recently, these sabotage tactics have included cutting the ACA enrollment period from 90 days to 45, refusing to guarantee subsidies to keep premiums down, and using taxpayer money intended for advertising the exchanges to attack the ACA instead. The Trumpcare debacle shows that Republicans have no workable solutions for improving the American health care system, and they should get out of the way instead of continuing to make things worse. At the very least, they should finally begin to work with progressive members of Congress who actually understand and care about improving healthcare for America. It’s time for the GOP to give up their obsession with dismantling Obamacare for the sake of simply dismantling Obamacare.”