BERATING BARLETTA: Protesters rally outside office against his health care vote

May 12--HAZLETON -- Protesters stood outside U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta's downtown office Thursday afternoon to express their frustration with the congressman's vote to dismantle the Affordable Care Act.

"I don't want to have to go back to holding spaghetti dinners to help raise funds for people who are sick," said Alisha Hoffman-Mirilovich, Mountain Top, a member of Action Together NEPA.

Like most of the protesters, Hoffman-Mirilovich waved a flag and held a sign up to passing motorists. Hers said, "Don't Make America Sick Again." Her reason for attending the protest, she said, was somewhat personal.

"A lot of family members have pre-existing conditions," she said. Under the American Health Care Act, states can allow insurance companies to charge more for health insurance to people with pre-existing conditions.

Barletta, R-11, Hazleton, wasn't on hand for the protest. In a statement to the Standard-Speaker, he said the First Amendment gives people the right to express their opinions.

"The fact is that Obamacare is failing, and it is unsustainable if we do nothing," he said.

James Haraschak, Freeland, wasn't pleased with the vote and carried a sign that read, "Patients, Not Profit$."

A member of Anthracite United, Haraschak said he came out in hopes of making a change.

"I care about human life over profit," he said.

Jill Carlson, of Bloomsburg, said she was on hand to let Barletta know she was "very upset" with his vote.

"He turned his back on his constituents," said Carlson, of Columbia County Indivisible. "I don't want to go back to the days where Americans were at the mercy of insurance companies."

Dwayne J. Heisler of the Democratic State Committee of Columbia County used a noisemaker to draw attention from motorists.

"We need leadership. We need representation and Lou is not providing that," he said.

Protesters later staged a "die-in," by lying next to tombstones on the sidewalk.

Some motorists traveling by the protest at Broad and Church streets honked in support or opposition.

The protest was organized by the Pennsylvania Democratic Party.

Barletta stood by his vote.

"(On Thursday), Aetna joined the growing list of insurers pulling out of Obamacare, leaving millions of Americans with little to no choice over their health care plans. The American Health Care Act is a starting point for a better health care plan that will drive down costs, allow consumers to choose their plans, and continue protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions. The bill provides $115 billion for states to use to bring down health care costs, including for substance abuse and addiction treatment, and an additional $15 billion that must be put toward these areas," Barletta said in the statement. "Congress also passed a bipartisan government funding bill last week that fully funds ... the most sweeping bipartisan legislation to date addressing the heroin and opioid crisis."

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