Hampton Roads congressmen split on today’s vote to replace Affordable Care Act

Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA)

May 04--Hampton Roads' congressmen are splitting along party lines today as Republican leaders of the House of Representatives seek to pass revamped legislation that would abolish and replace key elements of the Affordable Care Act.

Republican Reps. Scott Taylor and Rob Wittman -- Wittman opposed a March version of the GOP bill -- both intend to support the new legislation while Reps. Bobby Scott and Donald McEachin oppose it.

The vote set for Thursday afternoon comes after GOP House leaders and President Donald Trump's administration have been lobbying party members to support the bill so it can be passed this week before the House begins a one-week recess. Should legislation pass, it will go the Senate for consideration.

The GOP-controlled House voted more than 50 times in favor of bills to abolish the ACA -- known as Obamacare -- during President Barack Obama's two term with no success. They are hoping this year they can make it stick if the Senate follows their lead and the bill is sent to the Republican president.

The revised Republican plan, which would abolish the requirement that almost all Americans have health insurance, would keep in place a popular provision that allows people under age 26 to stay on their parents' policy.

It make changes to the federal law requiring all insurance policies provide a minimum package of benefits and also how those with preexisting conditions are covered. States could seek waivers from the federal government to allow insurers to sell cheaper policies that offer less coverage.

Taylor, who also supported a similar GOP plan two months ago, said Thursday it's better option than the Affordable Care Act.

"Obamacare is clearly failing," Taylor said. "This is the biggest tax scheme in the history of this nation... We're punishing the majority of Americans."

It gives more control to people buying insurance and patients, he said. "To me, this makes more sense. It's market driven."

Critics argue the changes would lead to those with expensive medical conditions being isolated in their own insurance categories and eventually forced to pay substantially more for coverage.

"That is not a good plan. That is not an improvement," said Scott. "If we have any changes in the Affordable Care Act, we should not go backwards."

The Newport News Democrat noted that while insurance rates continue to rise, the rate of increase since the ACA was adopted is the slowest in 50 years. He noted that 20 million more people now have insurance because of the ACA.

A report by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office concluded that a March version of the GOP health care bill would lead to 24 million going without insurance within 10 years.

Wittman of Westmoreland County is voting for the new version after changes were made, his spokesman said Thursday.

"After reading the bill, hearing from constituents, and considering the amendments ... he feels the bill contains necessary protections for people with pre-existing conditions, meets the principles for health care reform that he laid out months ago, and puts in place policies that will increase access to care and reduce costs," wrote Gregory Lemon, Wittman's press secretary, in an email.

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