Local Protests Against Republican Healthcare Bill
Citizen Action of Wisconsin says its members will be joined by healthcare professionals, patients, and community members to rally in opposition to the House of Representatives just passed bill aimed at replacing the Affordable Care Act. Also known as Obamacare.
The group says it will strip health coverage from millions of Americans, including a number of constituents in Congressman Paul Ryan's district who they say would lose coverage and face discrimination because of a pre-existing health condition.
They plan to meet around 1 p.m. Thursday outside Speaker Ryan's Racine office at 216 6th St.
Simultaneous response actions are planned for Wausau, Appleton and Eau Claire.
Rep. Kevin McCarthy, Republican from California tells CBS's Weija Jiang that "We'll have the votes. This will pass."
The bill reduces the subsidies for low-income Americans and eliminates taxes on the wealthy who pay for them.
It would also try to encourage young people to buy insurance by offering age based tax credits for people less than $75,000 a year.
States can choose to allow insurers to charge higher rates for people with pre-existing conditions, but only if the states set up high risk pools to help with the costs.
Republicans are using rules known as budget reconciliation to avoid a Democratic filibuster in the Senate. This would mean they need only 51 votes to pass the bill in the Senate.