Really, Again? Seriously?
Surprise, surprise, he’s at it again folks! Grimm joined the House GOP in a vote to overturn the Affordable Care Act - for the 33rd time. That’s right, this is the 33rd time the GOP in the House has taken action to strike down this law. Hey, just because the Supreme Court tells us the law’s constitutional doesn’t mean we should call it quits, right?
In a statement about his decision for repeal, Grimm stated, “I have consistently opposed the health care law because of its economy-crushing taxes and steep price tag, which harm our businesses and do little to address the core issue facing our healthcare system - increasing costs…This law hurts our seniors with steep cuts to Medicare, does nothing to create jobs, and jeopardizes the care that many of New York’s families and individuals rely on.”
A few concerns: the individual mandate is not a tax, it’s a penalty, and one that only a fraction of the population would have to pay if they did not abide by the law.
The law does not hurt seniors - in fact, Paul Nathanson, executive director of the National Senior Citizens Law Center, a nonprofit advocacy group, stated that, “This is great news for seniors on Medicare,” when the Supreme Court decided to uphold the constitutionality of the ACA. It closes the “doughnut hole” gap in Part D drug coverage, which will save the average Medicare beneficiary an average of $650 a year. It provides preventative services, in-home programs, and free wellness exams, and it even expands the solvency of Medicare for much longer.
And saying that the ACA “jeopardizes the care that many of New York’s families and individuals rely on,” is a blatant lie. The law will expand coverage for millions of uninsured. The only potential cuts are to Medicaid - and that is NOT a result of the ACA, that’s a direct result of the Supreme Court’s ruling that that provision is unconstitutional. The GOP governors in Florida and Texas have already vowed not to expand Medicaid, jeopardizing the health of millions of Americans in the process.
So Grimm - where are you getting your facts? And how are you voting against the ACA in good conscience? Your political opportunism is putting real lives on the line.
