Hundreds rally at Keene’s Central Square against plans to change U.S. health care

Jan. 16--Crowds rallied in Keene's Central Square Sunday afternoon, speaking out against plans by Congress to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

Somewhere between 100 and 200 people showed up, according to demonstrators and Keene police Sgt. James A. Cemorelis.

The crowd showed up to the square shortly before noon, waving signs and brandishing stickers, said organizer Jim Murphy of Keene.

Bundled-up protesters held signs reading "Honk for health," "No cuts to the safety net" and "Health care is a human right." Speakers took to megaphones to address the crowd from the bandstand.

The protest was one of hundreds across the country set off in response to a budget reconciliation bill passed by the U.S. House and Senate last week that would dismantle large portions of the Affordable Care Act, the signature health care legislation of President Barack Obama that was passed in 2010.

The act, often referred to as Obamacare, created a mandate for individuals to get insurance and established state insurance markets and subsidies to attempt to facilitate that. It raised federal health care spending through Medicaid and other subsidies, and it required insurance providers to insure those with pre-existing conditions, among other provisions.

Republicans have long said the law is too costly, adds too many regulations, and has contributed to rising insurance premiums across the country. With majorities in the U.S. Senate and House, the party was able to pass legislation to repeal the act that President-elect Donald Trump, a Republican, is expected to sign shortly after being inaugurated Friday. Trump has promised to introduce a replacement act that would provide "insurance for everyone."

But Democrats across the country say passing the Affordable Care Act was necessary to provide insurance to millions who didn't have it and to impose regulations on insurance companies for fairer coverage.

Under the mantle "Our First Stand," Sunday's protests were inspired by a prior call to action by former Democratic presidential contender and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Murphy said.

The event in Keene was organized by the Monadnock Progressive Alliance, a group formed after the election that doesn't adhere to any one party, according to Murphy, a founding member. Following Sanders' appeal, the alliance had been planning Sunday's rally for weeks before it happened, Murphy added.

"People really felt energized by it," he said of the protest.

Among those speaking to the crowd was N.H. Rep. Delmar Burridge, D-Keene, a representative from Cheshire County District 16.

In his speech, Burridge struck a trenchant tone. "Republican repeal of Obamacare will be an annual death sentence for thousands," he said, according to text from his speech. He claimed that a flood of uninsured citizens would mean "hospitals will face financial ruin" and portrayed the repeal effort as an attempt to "stiff you majorly."

Speaking this morning, Burridge said he was impressed with Sunday's turnout.

"Folks were out there," he said. "For a sleepy town, there was a lot of action in a concentrated form."

Ethan DeWitt can be reached at 352-1234, extension 1439, or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @EDeWittKS

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