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Congressional Republicans Officially Become the Grinch as they Steal Christmas, Making Health Care Unaffordable by Letting Life-Saving Subsidies Expire
As Congressional Republicans Break their Promise to Bring Down Health Care Costs, the Fight for Our Health Campaign Condemns the Republican Caucus for Failing to Listen to the American People’s Call for Affordable Care
LOS ANGELES, CA – By refusing to call a vote to extend key Affordable Care Act subsidies that keep health care affordable, Republicans in Congress are leaving California families in the lurch in the middle of the holiday season.
Wealthy CEOs and powerful corporations will see their stockings stuffed this Christmas thanks to massive tax breaks, paid for by Californians whose health care costs are set to double, triple, or in some cases increase by up to 800% in the new year. House Speaker Mike Johnson’s decision to delay a vote and allow the subsidies to expire, blocks the proven solution to keep coverage affordable for California families.
The Fight for Our Health Campaign released the following statement, attributed to Amanda McAllister-Wallner, Executive Director of Health Access:
“At a time when Californians should be looking toward the new year with a sense of hope and possibility, Republicans in Washington are sticking by their plans to make health care more unaffordable. Instead of extending ACA subsidies – the proven way to keep premiums down and expand access to care – they’ve chosen to let them expire, putting affordable coverage out of reach for millions of Californians.
“When they were busy dismantling Medicaid earlier this year, Republicans like California’s David Valadao promised to lower health care costs and protect access to care. Now we know that was all lip service. Their failure isn’t just a broken promise – it puts nearly 2 million Californians and working families at risk of losing the coverage they rely on to stay healthy, keep their jobs, and care for their loved ones. It will impact everyone, even those not in Covered California, as less people are covered and health care costs rise.
“People are hurting right now. Those who are sick today and are already struggling to make ends meet cannot afford to wait – and both Congress and the Senate have failed to protect them. It’s time for Republicans to do their job instead of giving up, throwing up their hands and saddling the rest of us with more expensive health care.”
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