AS CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC WORSENS, SUSAN COLLINS’ KEY VOTE ON THE REPUBLICAN TAX BILL CONTINUES TO PUT HEALTHCARE ACCESS FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS IN JEOPARDY, WITH FURTHER DANGER TO THE ACA LOOMING
Portland, MAINE – Today, to mark the ten year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), 16 Counties Coalition released a new report detailing how access to affordable health insurance provided by the landmark legislation is benefiting those who previously were unable to access care. As the coronavirus continues to impact every community around the country – and millions of Americans are facing loss of employer-sponsored insurance due to job losses – maintaining the strength and accessibility of our healthcare system is critical.
The report also explains how Susan Collins’ deciding vote in favor of the 2017 Republican tax cuts undermined the ACA by leaving it vulnerable to a legal challenge that is currently pending before the Supreme Court.
“Mainers need access to health care now more than ever. Especially as this crisis grows, they need to know that Susan Collins is listening to them, not special interests, and will stand up against ongoing attempts to undermine our health care,” said Willy Ritch, executive director of 16 Counties Coalition. “The ACA has been hugely successful in providing affordable access to health care. We need to tell Senator Collins to put Mainers first and protect the ACA, especially in this time of crisis.”
With so many families at risk, Republicans are still actively attempting to repeal the ACA. For her part, Senator Collins voted 21 separate times to repeal, defund, or block the ACA. And she voted to appoint former pharmaceutical executive Alex Azar, who has been a vocal opponent of the ACA, as Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services.
About the 16 Counties Coalition The 16 Counties Coalition is a year-long grassroots advocacy campaign aimed at amplifying the voices of families and working Mainers and encouraging Senator Susan Collins to vote in favor of the people she was elected to represent and defend. The campaign will mobilize members through small- and large-scale events, through digital action, and paid television, radio, and digital ads.
