HARRISBURG – Marc Stier, Director of the PA Budget and Policy Center, made the following statement following today’s passage of the American Health Care Act by the U.S. House:
“Today the Republican controlled House of Representatives passed legislation that will strip health insurance from 1.3 million Pennsylvanians, will lead to the pre-mature death of 3,250 Pennsylvanians for lack of health insurance, and will threaten the health insurance of five million Pennsylvanians with pre-existing conditions. If the the health care exchanges survive, premiums for older adults will skyrocket, making health insurance unaffordable for most Pennsylvanians between the age of 50 and 64.
“This legislation was never about improving health care. It was about giving $500 billion in tax breaks to the very wealthy and to big insurance and drug companies.
“We are grateful that all of Pennsylvania’s Democratic members of Congress and four of its Republican members of Congress in Pennsylvania were willing to put aside right-wing ideology to stand with their constituents.
“Pennsylvania families, including the thousands of people in our state who attended town halls, wrote letters, called their representatives, and fought against this bill, will not stop fighting to prevent this bill from becoming law.”