While most of the Republicans who end up opposing Trumpcare if it ends up going to a vote on Thursday will vote against it because it doesn't take health insurance away from enough people as fast as they’d like, there are a few who will be swayed by arguments that would affect an actual human being. Like, you know, the fact that people will die because of what's in this bill. That's the argument being made by almost all the health groups.
The American Hospital Association has launched TV ads against the bill, using a clip of then-candidate Donald Trump saying in 2015 that “everybody’s got to be covered.” The ad argues, though, that despite that promise “millions could lose health coverage” under the House Republican plan. […]
The AARP, a powerful group among seniors, a key constituency for Republicans, is speaking out strongly against a provision in the bill loosening restrictions on insurers to allow them to charge older people more. Republicans say the provision will help lower premiums for younger people and stabilize the market, but the AARP has dubbed the provision an “age tax.” [...]
The AMA’s president, Dr. Andrew Gurman, held an event at the National Press Club last week alongside the American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, and American Heart Association to speak out against the Republican bill.
Gurman delivered an “urgent call to congressional leaders to go back to the drawing board.” He pointed to “grim” estimates on the House GOP bill from the Congressional Budget Office, which found that 24 million more people would be uninsured by 2026.
That should be enough for moderate Republicans to do the right thing. At least one says it is.
Iowa Rep. David Young released a statement saying he'll vote no, using the usual vague "patient-centered" thing Republicans who don't know how to talk about healthcare policy use, but he's opposing this bill from the left–for what might be a principled reason.
The more Freedom Caucus members step forward to say they're voting no, the more moderates will see room to do the right thing.
That means we keep calling. The House is still scheduled to vote on Trumpcare on THURSDAY, MARCH 23. Even if you already called your member of Congress, do it again by calling the Capitol Hill switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Jam the phone lines, urge them to vote NO.