Menu Bar

Home           Calendar           Topics          Just Charlestown          About Us

Monday, October 16, 2017

RI’s members of Congress oppose Trump’s attacks on the Affordable Care Act

By Bob Plain in Rhode Island’s Future


Rather than dismantling Obamacare through executive orders, Rhode Island’s Congressional delegation urged President Donald Trump and Republicans to work with Democrats to fix the Affordable Care Act.

The four Democrats oppose Trump’s executive orders that would allow for cheaper plans with fewer benefits and stop subsidies for some poor people’s health care.

Senator Jack Reed called it a “reckless, desperate act” and implored Republicans to work with Democrats to fix Obamacare.

Congressman David Cicilline said “Trump continues to fail” the American people and implored him to work with Democrats.

Congressman Jim Langevin “strongly condemn[s] the President’s reckless actions” and urged everyone to work together to fix health care.

And Senator Sheldon Whitehouse likened Trump’s tactics to “a reality TV show” and said the President “needs to put aside the politics and support the effort in Congress to make responsible, bipartisan changes to our health care system.”

Below are the full statements from each member of the delegation:

Senator Jack Reed

“This is beyond irresponsible. The President seems to be carrying out a personal vendetta to destabilize health insurance markets, raise everyone’s costs, and leave more Americans without health care.  This President is so determined to implode Obamacare that he doesn’t seem to care about collateral damage to working families.  The CBO has already warned that if President Trump refuses to make these payments, he will send premiums soaring and increase federal budget deficits by $194 billion in the coming decade.  

"This is a reckless, desperate act and it’s time for Congressional Republicans in DC to step up and truly join Democrats like me who have been calling for fixing, not breaking our health insurance system,” Reed said.

Congressman David Cicilline

The American people are hurting. And President Trump continues to fail them. This executive order will sabotage the health care market and drive up costs for working people. The President should be working with Democrats to make the Affordable Care Act even stronger. Instead, he’s creating chaos and undermining access. The American people deserve A Better Deal than this one.”

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse

This isn’t a reality TV show; this is Americans’ health care. It’s clear the President is trying to sabotage the health care market and send costs soaring, especially for older, sicker Americans who have no place to turn but the Affordable Care Act. President Trump needs to stop this shameful chipping away at a health care law tens of millions of Americans rely on. And he needs to put aside the politics and support the effort in Congress to make responsible, bipartisan changes to our health care system.”

Congressman Jim Langevin

I strongly condemn the President’s reckless actions to destabilize the health insurance market just two and half weeks before the 2018 open enrollment period begins. The President’s Executive Order and subsequent decision to abruptly end Cost Sharing Reduction payments is a one-two punch that will directly affect the affordability of health coverage for hardworking families. Choking off these payments will drive up premiums for many Americans already struggling to pay for insurance.  The Administration is sabotaging critical pieces of a law that has provided millions of people with access to care in a cynical attempt to precipitate a crisis.

“We should be working together to strengthen our health care system. That is why I introduced the Individual Health Insurance Marketplace Improvement Act to lower costs and give consumers more options. It is high time that Republicans join Democrats in offering constructive solutions to expand access to health care rather than continuing their crusade against the Affordable Care Act.”

Bob Plain is the editor/publisher of Rhode Island's Future. Previously, he's worked as a reporter for several different news organizations both in Rhode Island and across the country.