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Proposed Repeal of ACA ‘Harmful, Ill-Conceived, Rushed,’ Crist Says

Crist | Congress | Politics

U.S. Reps. Charlie Crist and Kathy Castor say they oppose the latest efforts by Congressional Republicans to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, D-St. Petersburg, has condemned a Repubican effort to eliminate the Affordable Care Act.

A vote is expected today (May 4) on a proposal that would repeal the ACA and, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal, could eliminate protections that cap out-of-pocket costs for catastrophic illnesses. The expected vote had already been criticized because Republicans aren’t waiting for an analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office about the possible financial impact of the GOP replacement plan.

Crist referred to that in his statement today:

“Republicans are rushing to the floor a partisan healthcare repeal bill. No one has read it – and no one knows how much it costs! What we do know is frightening: 24 million Americans will lose their healthcare, insurance companies will be able to again deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions, seniors will pay five times more for their insurance, and the poor and disabled will be seriously harmed through massive Medicaid cuts.

“I urge my colleagues to abandon this harmful, ill-conceived, rushed effort. We’re not listening to the people who have made clear they want us to work together, fix healthcare – not destroy it – and follow the physicians’ principle of ‘first, do no harm’.”

Kathy Castor | U.S. House of Representatives | Health Care U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, also opposes the bill, particularly a proposal to eliminate mandatory coverage of pre-existing conditions.

“As vice ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I’m helping lead the fight in Congress to maintain pre-existing condition protections and essential health benefits for our neighbors,” Castor said.

Castor appeared on the PBS NewsHour to highlight what she said is a proposal that “will increase costs and put health care out of reach for many Floridians.”

Before the vote, Castor spoke on the floor of the House to urge her colleagues to vote against the American Health Care Act and its repeal of the Affordable Care Act because of “its devastating impact on families across America and especially Florida.”

To see a video of Castor’s appearance on NewsHour, go to youtube.com. To see a video of Castor’s floor statement before today’s vote, go to youtube.com.

For information on Crist, go to crist.house.gov. For information on Castor, go to castor.house.gov.

Screenshot of Castor taken from video of her speech on the House floor.

Charlie Crist | Kathy Castor | Health Care | Health Insurance | ACA | Obamacare | Trumpcare | Tampa Bay News | TB Reporter

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