The U.S. Senate’s vote this afternoon moves the debate forward to potentially repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. What that will look like is anybody’s guess.
Senators Burr and Tillis both voted to proceed, but it is unclear what they will be proceeding to. Every proposal to come forward this summer would leave tens of millions more of our sisters and brothers without insurance. Some hybrid of those proposals seems likely, but Senate leaders do not appear to have assembled enough votes yet for any of the plans being circulated.
Please continue to call Senator Tillis and Senator Burr and let them know that providing affordable health care is a justice issue, one grounded in our call to see the face of God in one another and to love one another as we love ourselves.
You can also invite the Senators to hold in-person town hall meetings to hear directly from North Carolinians on this issue. As of this afternoon, neither had a town hall scheduled in the state according to their offices. The harm to all of us, and especially to the most vulnerable among us, is significant when access to our elected leaders is limited to major donors and lobbyists. If we are all equally valued, then our voices should carry equal weight.
Senator Tillis can be reached at 202-224-6342, and Senator Burr’s number is 202-224-3154.