Every story we tell is more evidence that access to healthcare for ordinary Americans is more valuable than any package of tax cuts for millionaires. (Image Credit: Flickr/LaDawna Howard)
Last Friday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell unveiled the results of his super-sneaky, undemocratic process where he and his besties wrote a healthcare bill with no input from stakeholders, Democrats, or constituents. The bill was, to put it mildly, a giant shitburger. The CBO yesterday released a score on the bill that basically said, “Yes. This is a giant shitburger. You can eat it but it will cause 22 million people to lose their health insurance by 2026.”
Today, Senator McConnell discovered that you can lead your caucus to a shitburger, but you cannot make them take a bite.
The Senate announced a few minutes ago that they will not be bringing the shitbur…uh…bill to the floor because it lacks sufficient support to even start debate, much less pass the thing. Several Republicans have publicly stated that they don’t like the substance of the bill and don’t feel comfortable voting for it.
Some of their discomfort has to be coming from groups of frantic activists who have been pummeling the Senate phone lines, showing up at Senate offices, and even staging a “People’s Filibuster” by rallying on the steps of the Capitol. All of them are begging their elected officials to represent the interests of the sick and the poor, not just the rich and powerful.
The Resistance is out in force.
I want to stand up and cheer for every person who has told their story this week. When I worked in a healthcare advocacy organization, I learned that the personal story — the glimpse of real life, real struggles, real suffering — can be as effective as any campaign donation. The tales of a cancer survivor, or a parent caring for a medically fragile child, or a nurse who helps the elderly are undeniably moving.
That is why I am encouraging you to tell your stories. This fight isn’t over, not by a long shot.
Every story we tell is more evidence that access to healthcare for ordinary Americans is more valuable than any package of tax cuts for millionaires.
Call your senators, email their staff, show up at their offices in D.C. or in your state. Do whatever is in your power to tell your story.
They don’t know unless we tell them. Let’s tell them.
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