Leading congressional Democrats want to hold a series of rallies on Jan. 15 to protest Republicans’ plans to repeal Obamacare and other healthcare reforms.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., wrote a letter to potential organizers on Wednesday calling for the rallies.
“Beginning in January, it is likely that Republican leaders in Congress will follow through on their threats to ram through a budget bill that will severely undermine the healthcare needs of the American people,” the letter said.
It adds that a budget bill likely will include repealing Obamacare, converting Medicare into a voucher program and slashing Medicaid funding.
However, the only plan by the GOP-controlled Congress so far is to repeal Obamacare but leave it intact for a few years while a replacement is crafted. Republicans can easily pass a repeal bill through the Senate through the procedural move reconciliation, which requires only a simple majority vote.
While overhauling Medicare and turning Medicaid into a state block grant program are on conservatives’ wish lists, no concrete proposals have been suggested.
The Democrats’ letter calls for a series of rallies across the country on Jan. 15, five days before Trump is inaugurated as president.
“Millions of Americans voted for Donald Trump after he promised not to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid,” the letter said. “He must be held to his promises and should veto any legislation which cuts these vital and necessary health programs.”
