Schmick insists GOP plan won’t end people’s health care

March 24--Washingtonians do not have to worry about losing their health care, state Rep. Joe Schmick, R-Colfax, a member of the House Health Care and Wellness Committee, said Thursday night.

His comment on federal health care reform came as part of his March telephone town hall update from the statehouse in Olympia with fellow 9th Legislative District Rep. Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy.

And it came just hours after House Republicans in Washington, D.C., made headlines by delaying a vote on their health care bill, which would largely repeal the Affordable Care Act.

"Remember, Obamacare was passed in 2010. It didn't really start being enacted until 2014," Schmick said. "It's going to take a few years to unwind. So are people going to be losing their health care? No. Absolutely not."

The comments were part of a scheduled hour of phone calls, interactive polls and written questions from citizens in Whitman County and beyond to which Schmick and Dye responded.

One woman from Othello called in asking what had happened to health care coverage in the state, referring to seniors who would pay more than younger people and others who get left behind.

Schmick said the changes are due to continual changes and discussions at the federal level.

"We're just starting on this process. There's been no bill that's been passed and voted upon. So, just be patient," Schmick said. "And again, no one wants people to lose their health care."

Schmick also responded to a call from a man in Pasco asking if representatives have any influence over Gov. Jay Inslee and state Attorney General Bob Ferguson on their stances against the travel ban President Donald Trump issued against seven majority Muslim countries last month.

Inslee has publicly spoken out against the travel ban, and Ferguson played a critical role in blocking the ban in February.

"They should support the federal government and the security of the people of the United States and get off of this objection and lawsuit system that we have established in this country," the Pasco man said.

Schmick said he could not agree more and called Inslee and Ferguson adversarial opponents of the president.

"Boy, they're out there sure making a big mess out of things," Schmick said of the two. "We should be taking a look at the people who are coming into our country, frankly, because if we let these people in, we don't know anything about them. I don't believe it makes our communities any safer."

Dye said she and her constituents want to make positive changes to the immigration system and said there has been much hyperbole about the issue in the media.

"To have political posturing and the exaggeration that's been taking place, it doesn't help the political dialogue, it doesn't help us work together to try and solve the nation's problems," Dye said.

Taylor Nadauld can be reached at (208) 883-4630, by email to tnadauld@dnews.com and on Twitter @tnadauldarg.

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