Senate
Republicans failed in yet another effort to repeal the Affordable
Care Act, also known as “Obamacare,” having abandoned efforts to
repeal and replace the ACA with a so-called “skinny” repeal-only
effort.
Despite
engaging in the bullying tactics for which he is noted, President
Donald J. Trump failed to galvanize Republicans as he broke yet
another campaign promise that no one would be without affordable
health care.
The
latest GOP effort to kill Obamacare took place in great secrecy, as
Senators indicated that they hadn’t seen the legislation even as a
vote was scheduled.
Millions
would have been without health insurance, as funds allocated for
Medicaid would have been redirected to support tax cuts for the
wealthiest one percent of the population. “I want everyone to know
that this is a death sentence for me,” said Terri Frankel, who is
disabled and dependent on Medicaid to provide the medical treatment
she needs to survive.
Disabled
rights activists, many associated with the direct-action oriented
ADAPT organization, engaged in sit-ins at Senators’ constituent
offices in opposition to the bill.
It
would be wrong, however, to attribute the failures of both the Senate
and the House of Representatives to repeal Obamacare to a sudden
attack of conscience. In reality, the effort has exposed some
divisions within the ruling class. The nursing home industry and many
hospitals, particularly in rural areas, would have their revenue
streams impaired by cuts in the Medicaid program.
In
the wake of this latest defeat, President Trump fired his chief of
staff, former GOP National Chairman Reince Priebus.
>> The article above was written by Mark Silverman, and is reprinted from Socialist Action.
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