“American Health Care Act will lower premiums & improve access to quality, affordable care.” That was House Speaker Paul Ryan’s take on the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office’s official score of Trumpcare. Only it seems like he may have read a different report because the CBO report was bad for House Republicans. So bad, in fact, that Speaker Ryan was called out for his comments on Fox News. Here are a few key numbers from the report showing just how bad Trumpcare is:
- 24 million people will lose coverage over 10 years.
- 14 million people will lose coverage by 2018.
- 7 million fewer people will have employer-sponsored coverage in 10 years.
- 14 million fewer people will have Medicaid coverage in 10 years.
- $880 billion will be cut from Medicaid over 10 years.
- 15 to 20 percent premium INCREASE in the individual market in 2018 and 2019.
What’s puzzling, House Republican leaders seemed to be expecting the CBO report to be this bad. Even before the CBO actually released its score, they began trying to discredit the office. But their strategy is pretty transparent. Congressional Republicans loved the CBO until it didn’t work for them. HHS Secretary Tom Price himself personally signed off on the appointment of the current CBO Director, but yesterday Price joined his House peers in attacking the CBO. These attacks are no more than a distraction, the reality is Trumpcare would cover fewer people at a higher price and it’s not just the CBO that says so, all these reports agree.
ACTION OF THE DAY
#Resist Trumpcare. Yesterday’s CBO report provides more evidence (not that we really needed it) that the House Republican health care bill will cause the uninsured rate to skyrocket and increase costs for everyday people, all while giving big insurance companies and the wealthy another tax break. House members need to hear from you. Find your congressional representative’s phone number here or call this number 202-224-3121 to be connected to them and tell them to reject Trumpcare. Then share this graphic:
WHAT’S TRENDING
Tax cuts. Trumpcare, doesn’t only take away health insurance coverage for 24 million people, it also provides massive tax cuts for health insurance executive pay. According to new analysis from the Center for American Progress Action Fund, five health insurance companies will receive up to $63 million a year in tax cuts, based on health insurance executive’s 2015 compensation.
EMAILS. Former Exxon CEO and current Secretary of State allegedly used a separate email account under the alias “Wayne Tracker” to discuss climate change while working at Exxon, according to Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s office. Schneiderman is currently investigating Exxon’s knowledge climate change. Exxon didn’t include emails from the “Wayne Tracker” email account in its reply to Schneiderman’s subpoena, though the “Wayne Tracker” account was used for important matters, especially regarding Exxon’s knowledge of climate change. Read more here.
“Air Quotes.” Sean Spicer finally resorted to using “air quotes” to walk back Trump’s unsubstantiated wiretapping accusations, after a growing chorus of Congressional leaders began asking questions. Leaders of the House Intelligence Committee has asked the Justice Department to turn over any evidence of Trump Tower wiretapping before next Monday’s public hearing on Russian hacking(follow along with @CAPAction)—and now DOJ’s dragging its feet.
“Chinese Miracle.” Jared Kushner’s family real-estate company just scored an “unusually favorable” $400 million deal with a secretive Chinese company to invest in a Manhattan office building. And while Kushner’s family enjoys the *perks* of this deal, Jared is serving as the President’s right-hand-man on China policy. The kicker? Jared personally negotiated the deal and hasn’t fully divested his real-estate assets.
UNDER THE RADAR
Nashville. Not the TV show (unfortunately). Trump is going to be in Nashville tomorrow to speak on two of the policy issues he’s had the most trouble with: health care and education. Reminder: Trump and his Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’s education plan would take money away from public schools and give it to private schools. That plan wouldn’t work for most of the country, and would harm Tennessee students. And we’ve covered the whole health care mess. In the Nashville area? Protest Trump’s visit tomorrow.