Republicans could not even agree on how cruel they should be to the American people and how generous they would be to billionaires. So, they surrendered before they were actually defeated on the House floor, last week.
We have known for years that the only true health care reform that will work is a single-payer system where we take national responsibility for the health of our nation. The private market is good in many respects, but a single payer system would plug the holes that let too many people fall through the cracks or rely on very expensive care when preventive care is unavailable or unaffordable.
I hope we are getting closer to the day when we measure our progress on health care reform by reducing the number of people who are left out to zero. But obviously, the Republicans prefer to drop people from coverage, make coverage unaffordable, and make our communities less healthy.
Now that this vote is over, I hope we can return to a serious and sensible discussion of strengthening our health care system and the improving the health of all Americans.
Seniors, young people, families, working people, poor people, women and Latinos – almost every individual living in my District would have been be hurt by this measure. I have said consistently that any new health care reform has to make coverage available to those who already have it, extend coverage to those who do not already have it, and it should not include foolish measures to undermine Planned Parenthood which serves thousands of women, men and girls in my community.
TrumpCare fails on all of my criteria and in so many other ways. Now that this vote is over, I hope we can return to a serious and sensible discussion of strengthening our health care system and the improving the health of all Americans.
Rep. Gutiérrez is in his 13th term representing the Fourth District of Illinois. He is a Member of the Judiciary Committee and is the Chair of the Immigration Task Force of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
- What We Need is a Moment of Action - May 24, 2018
- Allegiant Air Is a Tragedy Waiting to Happen - April 19, 2018
- Dream Act: The Time is Now - March 22, 2018
