Concerning the recent failure of the Republican attempt to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act:

The new Republican health care bill would have had the immediate effect of removing 20 million low income Americans from health care. This would increase to 24 million Americans without health care by the year 2020 when a portion of the federal funding for Medicaid would be stopped.

There are now 20 million Americans, many of them low income, who have health care for the first time because of Obamacare. Had the Republican health bill passed, these people would have been stripped of their health care. These people would have access to medical coverage but the cost would be prohibitive for most of these people.

The proposed second Republican attempt at a new health care bill would include all of the above but also include exclusions for pre-existing medical conditions, pregnancy, maternity, newborn and several other essential health care coverages.

President Trump’s proposed federal budget eliminates funding for the Meals on Wheels program, Planned Parenthood, subsidized lunch programs for poor children and many others. This, while President Trump flies down to his ultra-luxurious Florida resort while cutting programs for the most poor of our nation.

Mark Johnson

Nine Mile Falls