Daily Yopp! 3.6.17 Keep the Pressure On About Affordable Care

I'm sure you have already contacted your members of Congress (MoCs) about protecting the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare). We have Trump and the GOP on the defense with this on, but don't let up. Not only do we need to do everything we can to ensure health coverage for all, but since this particular issue cuts across party lines with voters, our representatives are especially sensitive. As such, we can keep them on the defense and unable to mount an attack on other fronts. Basic sports analogy - the best defense is a good offense. In other words, keep them busy dealing with constituents who are angry about losing their health care and they'll have less time to focus on other harmful legislation.

As best we can tell, the GOP's plans are in process. This article from the Washington Post suggests that the Republicans are drafting a plan in secret. Reuters claims that the GOP is ready to unveil its plans this week.

Our friends at Weekly Resistance have posted this action for the week:

This Week's Action: #SaveObamacare, Protect the Medicaid Expansion 

All of our activism is working. We’ve got the GOP scared, stalling and divided on Obamacare. But Trump and the Republicans are promising a new plan to take away health insurance from millions of Americans within the next few days, so we need to keep up the pressure. Tell your reps to save the Affordable Care Act and demand they block ANY bill that destroys the Medicaid expansion. Tell them they must fight for our care like people’s lives depend on it or we’ll elect someone who will.

Here's the deal. When it comes to dismantling various the Affordable Care Act, Trump had one thing right. It's really complicated!! This Congress has 189 bills so far that are related to health care. So far, only five have passed the House. This Huffington Post article argues that the GOP plan to replace the Affordable Care Art will result in a loss of health care for millions.

Cut to the chase...what's the CTA (Call to Action)? Well, I gotta tell you...I'm a heavily blue district in a heavily blue state. When I call my MoCs (which I do 3-4 times a week), I usually just say something like, "Yeah...keep doing what you are doing to defend the Affordable Care Act." They actually want/need folks to call/email so they can mark it on the daily tallies, but I try to keep the messages short so they can get to more calls/emails and add to the tallies.

So here's the CTA. Call your three MoCs with this script:

I am (your name), and I live in (town or city). I am a constituent of Representative/Senator ____________ [and a member of (insert any relevant organizations)]. I am [an elder who uses Medicare; a person with a disability who depends on Medicaid; a family member of someone who depends on Medicare/Medicaid/the Affordable Care Act; a professional in the disability field; etc].I am calling to tell the Representative/Senator:

• Do NOT repeal the Affordable Care Act without a replacement that maintains or improves coverage and protections.
• Do NOT allow restructuring and cuts to Medicaid to be part of an ACA replacement.
• The ACA/Medicaid/Medicare helps me/my family member to have health care and community-based (school-based) services.

Thank you.

Okay...that's it. Yours in Solidarity.