Senate Democrats Condemn Republican Plan to Take Healthcare from One Million Ohioans

COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 7 -- Ohio Senate Democrats issued the following information:

Today, as President Trump visits Ohio, the Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus is calling on the U.S. Congress to vote against the American Health Care Act of 2017 (AHCA). According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis, the AHCA would result in one million Ohioans losing insurance coverage. Over 23 million Americans would lose coverage by 2026.

"Our job is to protect the citizens we serve. The AHCA will cause harm to some of our most vulnerable populations, which is simply unacceptable," said Senate Minority Leader Kenny Yuko (D-Richmond Heights). "The AHCA would increase healthcare costs for the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions. We could see one million of our fellow Ohioans without health insurance."

This week, the Caucus will introduce a resolution urging the U.S. Congress to vote against the AHCA. The resolution will be jointly sponsored by Leader Yuko and Assistant Senate Democratic Leader Charleta B. Tavares (D-Columbus). All other members of the Senate Democratic Caucus have signed on as co-sponsors.

The AHCA could dramatically increase insurance premiums and out-of-pocket expenses for low-income individuals and those with pre-existing conditions. This would have a particularly damaging effect on elderly individuals.

The AHCA is opposed by many prominent national medical organizations, including:

* The American Association for Retired Persons (AARP)

* American Medical Association (AMA)

* American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

* American Health Care Association

A copy of the Caucus' resolution will be sent to each member of the Ohio Congressional delegation, as well as ranking members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives and the White House.

The language of the resolution can be viewed here (http://blogspot.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=83058efadac7fd9d118aa89ee&id=8f6ed517d2&e=d7771ef65e).

Members of the Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus released the following statements upon the announcement of this resolution:

Senator Charleta B. Tavares (D-Columbus), Assistant Senate Democratic Leader:

"I am proud to join my fellow senators in expressing our collective outrage at the American Health Care Act (AHCA). The AHCA, or the 'Health Care Loss Act,' would leave our most vulnerable Americans without care. More than 700,000 Ohioans who received health care through the expansion of Medicaid would be negatively impacted.

"These are our constituents - veterans, individuals struggling with addiction and mental health disorders, and working low-income Ohioans. We cannot pretend that these residents will be 'ready to learn or ready to earn' without their health care needs being addressed. The Health Care Loss Act is misguided and mean spirited. We are encouraging the U.S. Senate to step back and work to improve upon what did not work with the Affordable Care Act, not leave 23 million Americans without care."

Senator Edna Brown (D-Toledo), Senate Minority Whip:

"The Republican effort to reform American healthcare has fallen far short. Costs will rise. Millions will lose insurance. Americans with almost any type of pre-existing condition--asthma, depression, arthritis, sleep apnea, and more--will no longer be covered at all. And the AHCA doesn't stop there. It will also cripple both Medicaid and Medicare. This should not be about politics but about solving one of the biggest issues facing our nation today."

Senator Cecil Thomas (D-Cincinnati), Assistant Senate Minority Whip:

"The Preamble to the U.S. Constitution establishes 'promot[ing] the general Welfare' as one of the founding goals of the United States of America. As public servants, it is our duty to provide for our neediest populations, regardless of the size of their paycheck. Quality, affordable healthcare is a human right, not a privilege."

Senator Joe Schiavoni (D-Boardman):

"The American Health Care Act (AHCA) would leave Ohioans uninsured and unhealthy. Across the nation, the AHCA would raise costs for our most vulnerable residents and leave many without coverage.

"I urge Congress to consider the effects this bill would have on the health of Ohio and this nation. Let's not go backwards. No one wants to be remembered as the politicians who took healthcare away. Let's improve and build on current law to move the country forward."

Senator Michael Skindell (D-Lakewood):

"More than 900,000 additional Ohioans have health coverage today due to provisions of the ACA. That amounts to almost ten percent of the population. The Congressional Budget Office has made it clear that the U.S. House Republican plan would take us in the opposite direction."

Senator Vernon Sykes (D-Akron):

"This bill is morally and financially flawed. The main goal of this legislation should be expanding access to affordable and quality care - unfortunately that is not the case with the Republicans' healthcare bill.

"Future healthcare reforms should make insurance more affordable and expand quality care to more Americans. They should not create tax breaks for wealthy corporations and obstruct access for more than 23 million people."