Congressman Dan Donovan (R-Southern Brooklyn, Staten Island) today was one of 20 moderate Republicans to vote against the American Health Care Act (AHCA) , also known as Trumpcare, which passed the House.
The measure, which repealed and replaced major parts of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, could leave millions of Americans without any healthcare. It passed the house 217-213 along highly partisan lines with the entire 193 member Democratic delegation voting against the measure.
“All policy is local, and my job is to represent the 740,000 people in New York’s 11th Congressional District. Despite amendments and revisions, this bill still does not address the needs of the people of Staten Island and South Brooklyn. As written, the AHCA would impose a tax hike on City residents to fund tax cuts elsewhere in the state. My constituents would also be unable to use the bill’s tax credits because of New York’s rules on insurance coverage,” said Donovan.
“The relief needed for local families is not in this bill. The plan would cost seniors more for health care at a time in their lives when incomes are limited and they need health care the most. Obamacare is failing and requires major reform. I remain steadfastly committed to replacing it with a plan that truly works for the people I represent,” he added.
Meanwhile, Democrats roundly criticized both Republicans passage of the bill and called it political suicide that will have a tough time passing the senate.
“This bill is going nowhere fast in the United States Senate. Rather than trying to pass a different version of the same Trumpcare bill that would mean higher costs and less care, Senate Republicans should refuse to follow their House colleagues over a cliff, reject repeal, and work with Democrats to improve our healthcare system in a bipartisan way,” said U.S. Senator Charles Schumer.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said call the bill a nightmare that will raise the cost of healthcare in the state while stripping away health coverage.
“Ultraconservatives in Washington have pushed through the House an unconscionable piece of legislation that threatens to tear apart our health care system. Far from improving our health care, the Republican plan will strip millions of Americans of their coverage, raise costs for the sick, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions, and penalize progressive states that protect the rights of women.
“Sadly, some representatives in New York have sold their vote and turned their backs on the very constituents they represent. This bill is a targeted assault against our values, punishing New Yorkers because we support women’s reproductive rights and including the Collins/Faso amendment which would devastate the state’s health care industry, put millions of New Yorkers at risk, and increase the total cost of this bill on New York to $6.9 billion.
“Despite the vocal opposition of the American people, radical conservative ideologues are still advancing a disastrous bill. I urge all Americans to call their Senators and tell them to stand with the people they represent by voting no on this reprehensible legislation.”
Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (D-Central Brooklyn, Coney Island) gave an impassioned speech on the House floor severely criticizing House Republicans for rushing through a disastrous healthcare bill that will strip lifesaving medical care away from 24 million Americans and blow a hole in the national deficit.
Check out the following video of his speech:
