Local Reps Respond To Senate Health Care Bill

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressional representatives of Chicago's North Shore responded Thursday to the release of a 142-page draft health care bill by Senate Republicans that would end many of the changes to the system put into place by the Affordable Care Act, including cutting hundreds of billions of dollars to Medicaid and cutting penalties for those that do not buy insurance.

A Senate vote is expected on the bill next week, although many Republican senators reportedly only learned the details of the contents of the bill Thursday morning.

Read more from the White House Patch and find responses below from north suburban and statewide elected federal lawmakers from Illinois:

Senator Dick Durbin

“Now we know why Senate Republicans kept this bill a secret for so long — it will take health insurance away from millions of Americans, and increase costs for Illinois seniors and families. The deep cuts to Medicaid are a disaster for downstate and Chicagoland areas as well.

“We need to stop this Republican health care repeal effort now that we know the devastating impact of their secret bill.”

Senior Illinois Sen. Durbin (D) is the Senate Minority Whip.

Senator Tammy Duckworth

“Last night, the President complained that Republicans could propose the ‘single greatest health care plan in the history of the world’ and Democrats would block it. That’s not true. I’ve always been willing to work with Republicans to improve our nation’s health care system, but this secretly-negotiated, partisan health care plan simply makes it worse. The Senate Republican plan gives massive tax cuts to Trump’s billionaire friends while forcing millions of working Americans to pay more for less care.

“It also guts Medicaid funding that new mothers, children, seniors, Veterans and people with disabilities rely on to lead full, happy and healthy lives. Does the President — do Republicans — truly believe this is the ‘single greatest health care plan in the history of the world?’ The American people certainly know it isn’t.”

Junior Illinois Sen. Duckworth is a former Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Congresswoman representing the 8th District.

Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky

“This bill is the result of 13 Republican men working in a room without input from doctors, patient groups, other lawmakers, or – more importantly – any one of the millions of Americans whose health care will be irreparably damaged if this bill becomes law. Not surprisingly, the bill that these Senators came up with is every bit as cruel and ineffective as its ugly counterpart in the House.

“The Senate bill does massive damage to Medicaid, which covers pregnant women, infants, children, people with disabilities and adults – including low-income seniors. The bill is also devastating for women’s health – it defunds Planned Parenthood and targets private insurance plans that cover abortions. To add insult to injury, the Senators who secretly drafted this bill saw it fit to keep the crippling age tax in their bill. This tax would mean older Americans will either be unable to afford insurance altogether or be forced to pay thousands more for it every year. At the same time, this bill gives massive tax cuts to the super rich and large corporations. This is a ‘health bill’ that benefits only the healthy and the wealthy. I will continue to do everything possible to defend the health care of my constituents and millions of Americans by opposing this bill.”

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Evanston) is Chief Deputy Minority Whip.

Congressman Brad Schneider

“Like the House version, the Senate bill is mean-spirited to the core – cruelly sacrificing health care coverage for the most vulnerable among us for tax breaks to the most fortunate.

“If passed, millions of Americans will lose health insurance, people approaching retirement age will be forced to pay an unfair ‘age tax,’ and those of us with pre-existing conditions will once again face discrimination and outrageous costs.

“There is a clear reason this bill was drafted in secret with zero bipartisan input, and Senate Republicans are now ready to spring these catastrophic consequences on the American people with minimal time for public debate.

“My office has received more calls, emails, and letters about health care than any other issue – more than 5,000 since the start of the year. I urge my colleagues to listen to the overwhelming voice of the American people, oppose this ill-considered legislation, and begin work in a bipartisan way to improve rather than tear down our health care system.”

Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Deerfield) is a member of the House Judiciary Committee

Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi

"This bill would pave the way for discrimination based on pre-existing conditions and allow health care premiums to explode for millions of Americans. Under the Senate’s proposal, even those Americans able to keep their health care could face drastically reduced coverage and be forced to pay out of pocket for cancer screenings, preventative care, and prescription drugs. In addition to the damage this bill would do to our health care system, its economic costs could be enormous.

This bill was written by thirteen senators behind closed doors without allowing for any debate or public comment. Now we know why they were afraid to let it see the light of day.”

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Hoffman Estates) is the ranking minority member of Subcommittee on Health Care, Benefits and Administrative Rules.

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