Casey to fight Trumpcare; Rothfus wants input

[DeminPennswoods]

Link: http://www.timesonline.com/timestoday/casey-leads-charge-against-house-gop-health-care-plan-as/article_27c4fe70-0386-11e7-84d0-ebbb962aeadb.html (goes behind paywall after 24 hours)

Rothfus:

As for southwest Pennsylvania House Republicans, they were also digesting the ACHA before commenting. “I am already reading and reviewing the legislation to determine it addresses the concerns I have had for seven years, and I welcome feedback from constituents on the proposal,” said U.S. Rep. Keith Rothfus, R-12, Sewickley, in an emailed statement.

Rothfus has made repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act a chief part of his congressional agenda since being elected in 2012. Rothfus is a former member of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus, which had some members criticize the GOP plan on Tuesday for not abolishing all aspects of Obamacare and promise to introduce their own plan.

Toomey:

Toomey, however, did discuss overhauling the healthcare law during a stop Monday at a Philadelphia television station for a question-and-answer session.

The Associated Press reported that he said addressing the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, as Pennsylvania and other states have done, should be a “negotiated agreement” and that Americans with pre-existing conditions and serious health issues should obtain coverage in a high-risk pool subsidized by the government.

Shuster and Murphy:

Casey Contres, the spokesman for U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, R-9, Bedford County, said Shuster was also reviewing the legislation. ... Tim Murphy said, “Despite the promises we were told seven years ago, with nearly 5 million Americans who were kicked off their insurance, $1 trillion in new taxes and an average increase of 25 percent in premiums this year, the Affordable Care Act has failed

[DeminPennswoods]

1. Rothfus is a cancer survivor

When the ACA was passed Congress was forced by the public to get healthcare coverage under the ACA, not FEHB that covers all other federal employees. Rothfus, as a cancer survivor, has an uninsurable pre-existing condition (cancer) and very likely won't get coverage under Trumpcare. He would likely be covered in the "high risk pools". I am going to have a hearty laugh when Keith will only be able to buy the shoddiest of plans and has to spend his and his family's life savings on care should his cancer recur.

[DeminPennswoods]

2. Rothfus hops on fence on Trumpcare

Story in the Beaver County Times today quoting Rothfus saying he's now "undecided" on if he's for or against it. He must be feeling the heat because he also complained Sen Casey hasn't offered a replacement plan.

[blue neen]

3. Whoa.

This is significant. I think it's been important for Rothfus to hear from his constituents as to how the ACA has impacted them in a positive way. So many previously uninsured people in PA now have insurance because of Obamacare, and IT IS SAVING LIVES!

If you can, could you put please post some paragraphs from the Beaver County Times article; I tried to access it but couldn't read it. Thanks so much.

[DeminPennswoods]

4. Can only summarize

Sorry, the story is behind a paywall as the Times only allows free views for 24 hrs after posting. Anyway, Rothfus was still spouting the same old tea party talking points about health care, so it was a bit surprising he's now undecided. He's not holding any town halls, but he's got to be getting a ton of calls, has seen the "town halls with or w/o Keith" and other GOP reps/sens taking a public beating and thinking that could be me.