After their first failed attempt to pass Trumpcare in the House and a devastating CBO score, GOP leaders made changes to their health care bill they promised would improve their first plan and rushed the second version of the bill through the House. The process was so rushed, GOP leaders voted on the newest version of Trumpcare without even knowing the impact the bill would have. Yesterday, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office finally released an updated score on the latest version of the bill. The result? The score confirmed what we already knew was true: Trumpcare has gone from bad to worse. Here are a few key takeaways from the score:
- 23 million: the number of people who will lose health coverage by 2026
- 14 million: the number of people who will lose Medicaid
- $834 billion: the amount that will be cut from Medicaid over 10 years
- 20 percent: the expected premium increase in 2018.
Whether you have a pre-existing condition, are insured under Medicaid, or get your insurance from your employer, Trumpcare is a disaster. This bill does nothing to protect the most vulnerable among us. It includes devastating cuts to Medicaid and would increase costs for all Americans all to give the wealthy a tax break. Right now, an all-male team is drafting the Senate version of Trumpcare in secret. They are reportedly only making tweaks to the bill and could even be making it worse. This fight is far from over.
ACTION OF THE DAY
The Hippocratic oath. The CBO score confirmed what we knew all along: Trumpcare will take health care away from millions of Americans. Now the fight has moved to the Senate. Demand that your Senator take this Hippocratic oath promising to do no harm to the American health care system.
WHAT’S TRENDING
Getting physical. The Montana special election to replace Ryan Zinke, now Trump’s Interior Secretary is today, and yesterday things really heated up. Hours before polls opened, Republican candidate Greg Gianforte was charged with attacking Guardian journalist Ben Jacobs after Jacobs asked him about the CBO score for the GOP health care bill. Now all three major newspapers have withdrawn their endorsements. Here’s what else to watch in today’s race.
Spy Kids. Minus Antonio Banderas. Last night, reports surfaced that American spies have evidence of Russian officials trying exert influence over the Trump campaign last year through Trump’s closest advisers, including Michael Flynn and Paul Manafort. This latest news adds to growing suspicion of possible coordination between the Trump campaign and the Russians. As if that weren’t sketchy enough, turns out that AG Jeff Sessions, who lied about his contacts with the Russian Ambassador during his confirmation hearing, also failed to disclose these contacts on his security clearance application.
Hands off our air, water, and public lands. Trump’s budget is an all out assault on our air, water, and public lands while prioritizing polluters and selling off our natural heritage. Get the details here.
Fight for 15. Last month, Senate and House Democratic leaders announced a proposal to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2024. Today, well over half of Democrats in Congress joined together as co-sponsors of the Raise the Wage Act of 2017. If it had kept pace the minimum wage had kept pace with workers’ productivity for the past 50 years, it would now be $21.36—instead it has remained stagnant at $7.25 for seven years and counting. Many cities and states have led the way with their own minimum wages—including several going to $15 per hour—bills, but still millions of Americans are left behind. A federal minimum wage of $15 an hour would mean $144 billion in higher wages for 41 million U.S. workers. More money in those pockets is good for the whole economy.
UNDER THE RADAR
#StandWithBearsEars. Today is the last day to get in comments to the Interior Department about your support for Bears Ears National Monument. Bears Ears, a national monument in Utah advocated for by a coalition of five Tribal nations, is specifically targeted by Trump’s monument “review” and is at risk of being revoked. Tell Trump and Interior Secretary Zinke that you stand with Bears Ears by submitting a comment here.
GOOD NEWS
Making History. Taiwan will soon become the first place in Asia to legalize same sex marriage, after a landmark marriage equality court decision this week.