Democrats want health care for everyone

The federal government is currently shut down because congressional Republicans refuse to negotiate with congressional Democrats on a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government.

Democrats are proposing two health-care related changes to the CR favored by Republicans.

The first proposed change is extending the tax credits for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which allow millions of low to moderate income Americans to afford health insurance. Elimination of these credits will cause health insurance premiums to rise sharply. For example: A 60-yr old couple in Kentucky making $85,000/yr face a $23,700 annual increase; Similar couples in Minnesota and Maryland face increases of $15,500 and $13,700; A family of 4 in Maine making $130,000/yr faces a $16,100 increase. Many consumers will have fewer choices because their insurers will have dropped all coverage.

About 80% of those who benefit from ACA tax credits live in states that Trump won in the 2024 election. 24% of Floridians under 65 rely on this tax credit, as do 14% of Georgians.

The second change Democrats are proposing is reducing or eliminating the huge reductions in the Medicaid and Nutrition programs (SNAP) that Republicans inserted into their so-called “Big Beautiful bill".

Republican politicians including Trump, Vance and Johnson have falsely claimed that Medicaid and ACA are providing billions in medical insurance for “illegal aliens” at taxpayers’ expense.  Not true! These insurance programs are only available for U.S. citizens and individuals assigned Temporary Protected Status.  Medicaid is only available to lawful immigrants meeting work requirements.  The only exception is hospitals receiving reimbursement for anyone receiving emergency room care, which is mandated by law.

Congressional Republicans want to eliminate ACA tax credits and gut Medicaid and Nutrition programs in order to help pay for huge tax cuts to wealthy individuals. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) indicates that as a result of the Republican “Big Beautiful Bill Act" the richest 10% of Americans will receive average tax cuts of tens of thousands of dollars. Tax cuts for middle-income households will be much smaller. Some analyses show the lowest-income middle-class households will receive extremely small cuts, while others show them receiving moderate increases. 

As noted, to fund these gifts for the rich, the "Big Bill" includes drastic spending cuts to programs relied upon by low-to-moderate income individuals, including the ACA, Medicaid, and SNAP. 

Hey, I wonder where Trump recently found the funds to provide $20 Billion to support Argentina’s authoritarian leader.

The Republican legislature wants Congress to support this "Big Bill" without asking who will suffer as insurance rates go up for lower to middle- income level Americans.  

Before it’s too late, call or write your congressperson and demand changes to the Republican "Big Beautiful Bill"/ CR, changes that: (1) allow access to health insurance for all Americans; (2) better distribute our tax dollars to lower income families; and (3) help keep America out of debt.

Ken Peterson                                                                    

MAJ U.S. Army (Ret.)                                                  

Buchanan