The 6 Things Mitch McConnell Doesn't Want You to Know
By Sophie Ota | July 12, 2017, 7:14 p.m.
Category: Health Care Equity, Voting
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell just canceled half of August recess—meaning that Senate Republicans get a shorter vacation, but more time to plot their dangerous Affordable Care Act repeal bill. Trumpcare would “defund” Planned Parenthood, decimate Medicaid, and take away health care from millions of Americans—instead providing a tax cut for millionaires and billionaires.
McConnell already delayed Trumpcare once, due to pressure from constituents and lack of support from his own Republican colleagues. This means that over the next few weeks, McConnell will do everything he can to ram this damaging legislation through congress as quickly as possibly.
Here are the top 6 key things that McConnell doesn’t want you to know about Trumpcare:
1) The Planned Parenthood “defund” would be immediate
The provision to “defund” would go into effect immediately after the bill is signed—unlike other provisions in the bill that have a longer timeline. That means within a day, or even hours after signing, Medicaid patients would no longer be covered for their appointments at Planned Parenthood.
2) BTW, “defunding” does NOT work
When Republican leaders in Texas “defunded” Planned Parenthood, the rate of teen abortions increased. And according to a new study: “In Gregg County, where the local health center lost 60 percent of its family planning funding, the abortion rate increased by 191 percent between 2012 and 2014.”
3) The myth about “Federally Qualified Health Centers”
Other health centers cannot absorb Planned Parenthood’s patients. Republican leaders claim that Federally Qualified Health Centers—or FQHCs for short—would be able to take on extra patients, should Planned Parenthood health centers close. But plain and simple, this just isn’t true.
As the Washington Post explains, “defunding” Planned Parenthood would “overwhelm [FQHCs], leaving women with few options.” Women would simply lose access to health care.
4) There is no federal funding of abortion
Let’s set the record straight once and for all: there is no federal funding of abortion. Planned Parenthood receives Medicaid reimbursements, just like hospitals and other health care organizations, for providing preventive care. The discriminatory Hyde Amendment has blocked federal funding for abortion for more than 40 years.
5) “Defunding” violates the Byrd rule
It’s clear the provision to block women from accessing care at Planned Parenthood is a violation of the Byrd rule. And there is broad consensus—from Republicans and Democrats alike—that it should not be in the reconciliation bill that repeals the Affordable Care Act.
6) McConnell’s own colleagues aren’t supporting Trumpcare
The Planned Parenthood provision is still a no-go for key Republican Senators. Senator Lisa Murkowski and Senator Susan Collins have been clear in their opposition to having “defunding” Planned Parenthood in the Senate repeal bill. Senator Dean Heller publicly said he would “protect Planned Parenthood,” and Nevadans expect him to keep his word.
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Tags: Republicans, Congress, Senate, Mitch McConnell, AHCA, Trumpcare
