The Democratic Party attempted to bring the political conversation back to healthcare Friday after lawmakers spent much of the week debating President Trump’s abrupt termination of former FBI Director James Comey.
In the weekly address, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York said she was excited to celebrate Mother’s Day this weekend before pivoting to a warning that Republicans’ healthcare bill could hurt mothers and families.
“It’s unbearable to consider, and it goes against our American values,” Gillibrand said.
Gillibrand talked about the Jimmy Kimmel episode from earlier in the week where the host bashed the revised American Health Care Act because of its policies toward people with pre-existing conditions.
“Nobody should be penalized just because they got sick. Or for being a woman. Or because they were born with a rare condition,” Gillibrand said, listing the potential effects of how she believes the GOP bill would hurt the aforementioned parties.
Gillibrand, who had been floated as a Democratic candidate for the 2020 presidential election, called on grassroots supporters to band together and refocus on blocking the healthcare bill in the Senate.
“So I urge you to join with us and oppose this bill,” Gillibrand said. “Write a letter to the editor, spread the word on social media, and call your representatives and tell them how this bill would hurt you.”
Congressional Republicans on Friday said they expect to finish reforming healthcare by July, four months later than previously anticipated.
