AFT Issues Statement on Congressional Budget Office Score

WASHINGTON, May 24 -- The American Federation of Teachers issued the following statement by President Randi Weingarten on the Congressional Budget Office's scoring of the American Health Care Act:

"The CBO score offers more confirmation that Republicans are trying to sell Americans a pig in a poke with Trumpcare. The American people will not be fooled by empty rhetoric and false promises.

"Trumpcare would strip coverage from 23 million Americans, make deep cuts to Medicaid that would be disastrous for children and families, further destabilize insurance markets, and send premiums and out-of-pocket costs skyrocketing for Americans with pre-existing conditions.

"If this bill were a bond it would have junk status. It's time to throw it out and start over with a focus on mending what is wrong with our healthcare system and expanding access to the affordable healthcare families deserve."

The AFT represents 1.6 million pre-K through 12th-grade teachers; paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel; higher education faculty and professional staff; federal, state and local government employees; nurses and healthcare workers; and early childhood educators.