Democrats in Last-Ditch Fight for ACA

Democrats are putting all of their chips in play following a 1 a.m. vote by Senate Republicans who took initial steps to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on Thursday, January 12.

The roll call resulted in a 51 to 48 vote in favor of saying goodbye to the ACA.

Also known as Obamacare, ACA has insured an estimated 22 million previously uninsured people since it was implemented in 2010.

In the vote, the senators approved a budget blueprint which allows the discontinuation of the health coverage law.

Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) said, “This is our opportunity to help the president-elect and the vice president-elect keep their campaign promises and show to the American people that elections have consequences.”

Democrats are saying that President-Elect Donald Trump, who has long been vocal about his plans to repeal ACA if he were to be elected, hasn’t offered a plan to replace the ACA.

#Trump says "repeal & replace" but w/ no solid plan? 20 million+ Americans who will lose #healthcare if the #ACA is repealed deserve details

— Sen. Maria Cantwell (@SenatorCantwell) January 11, 2017

This is the Republicans’ way of “stealing health care from Americans,” said Maria Cantwell (D-Washington). She went on to say that “health care should not just be for the health and wealthy.”

Now that the first major step in repealing the Act has been taken, the House and Senate committees have to map out a repeal legislation by January 27—one week after Trump is inaugurated into office. However, Rob Portman (R-Ohio) said that this date is just a placeholder and that the Republicans in the Senate believe it might take longer to come up with a repeal.

The House could vote on the ACA as early as Friday, January 13. But House Republicans reportedly have questions about a replacement plan before feeling comfortable voting.

The HIV Medicine Association, American Academy of HIV Medicine, Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, and Ryan White Medical Providers Coalition have joined the move to stop the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The groups released a letter with 950 signatures sent to US Senators urging them to save the health coverage law. See the letters: HIV Professionals Write Letter to Congress and HIV Medical Professionals Urge Congress to Do No Harm.

Kudos to Senate for taking first step to repeal/replace ObamaCare. Now it's the House's turn to get job done. #PromiseKeepingBusiness #MAGA

— Mike Pence (@mike_pence) January 12, 2017

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