Third Way Issues Statement on Senate Healthcare Bill

WASHINGTON, June 22 -- Third Way issued the following statement Gabe Horwitz, Vice President for the Economic Program:

"It should be clear by now that Republicans have sabotaged Obamacare to make their own health care bill look better. But no one should be fooled by claims that the draft Senate health care bill is not as disastrous as the House bill. It will still increase premiums and health care costs for older and sicker Americans, threaten coverage protections for people with pre-existing conditions, and create more instability in health care.

"To those calamities, the McConnell bill adds even deeper cuts to Medicaid, the lifeline for millions of Americans with disabilities and low-incomes.

"Sen. McConnell has also broken every rule for the consideration of major legislation. The secret draft bill, which was finally released today after weeks of pressure, will be rushed to the floor of the Senate without a single hearing or committee consideration.

"The only way to restore a balance to the nation's health care is to kill this deeply unpopular bill and proceed immediately to fixing the Affordable Care Act. That is what the American public is demanding."