Washington Republicans’ 4th Choice to Run for Louisiana Governor voted to take away health care for Louisianans with pre-existing conditions
Steve Scalise “rejects run for Governor”
John Kennedy “won’t run for Governor of Louisiana”
Jeff Landry “won’t run for Governor”
John Kennedy says Abraham can’t win
Steve Scalise John Kennedy Jeff Landry Congressman Ralph Abraham announced his campaign for Louisiana Governor today. We know what you’re thinking, “Ralph who?”
Well, to start, Abraham’s fellow Republican, Senator John Kennedy, spent the last few weeks telling every reporter who would listen that Abraham can’t beat Governor John Bel Edwards. And for once, Senator Soundbite is making sense: Congressman Abraham can’t win. Here’s are some of the many reasons why.
Last year, Congressman Abraham voted to take away health care for Louisianans with pre-existing conditions. Had it become law, Abraham’s legislation would have:
- Eliminated protections for nearly 2 million Louisianans with pre-existing conditions.
- Caused at least 343,400 Louisianans to lose their health insurance.
- Cut Medicaid for 170,000 Louisianans.
Congressman Abraham also opposed the expansion of Medicaid in Louisiana, which is already saving lives.
“For once we agree with John Kennedy: Congressman Abraham can’t win,” said American Bridge spokesperson Zach Hudson. “Congressman Abraham voted to take away protections for people with pre-existing conditions and eliminate health insurance for more than 343,000 Louisianans. With a record like that, it’s no wonder he was Republicans’ fourth choice to run for Governor.”
ABRAHAM’S RECORD:
ABRAHAM’S AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ACT WOULD HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY REPEALED PORTIONS OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT BY CUTTING MEDICAID AND REMOVING SAFEGUARDS FOR PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS
2017: Abraham Voted For The American Health Care Act That Which Would Result In 23 Million Fewer Americans With Health Insurance By 2026. In May 2017, Abraham voted for the American Health Care Act which would have significantly repealed portions of the Affordable Care Act by cutting Medicaid, cutting taxes on the rich, removing safeguard for pre-existing conditions and defunding Planned Parenthood. The overall legislation would have in part, also according to Congressional Quarterly, “ma[d]e extensive changes to the 2010 health care overhaul law, by effectively repealing the individual and employer mandates as well as most of the taxes that finance the current system. It would [have], in 2020, convert[ed] Medicaid into a capped entitlement that would provide[d] fixed federal payments to states and end[ed] additional federal funding for the 2010 law’s joint federal-state Medicaid expansion. It would prohibit federal funding to any entity, such as Planned Parenthood, that performs abortions and receives more than $350 million a year in Medicaid funds. […] It would [have] allow[ed] states to receive waivers to exempt insurers from having to provide certain minimum benefits.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 217 to 213. [House Vote 256, 5/4/17; Congressional Quarterly, 5/4/17; Kaiser Family Foundation, 5/17; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1628]
BILL WOULD HAVE CAUSED 343,400 LOUISIANANS TO LOSE THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE, INCLUDING 170,900 ON MEDICAID
The Center for American Progress Estimated That The American Health Care Act Would Cause 343,400 Louisianans To Lose Their Health Insurance Coverage, Including 170,900 On Medicaid, By 2026. According to Center for American Progress, “The Center for American Progress has estimated how many Americans would lose coverage by state and congressional district based on the CBO’s projections. […] The coverage losses under the American Health Care Act (AHCA) would be concentrated in the Medicaid program, but the level of private coverage would also drop compared to the current law. The CBO projects that, by 2026, there will be 14 million fewer people with Medicaid coverage, 3 million fewer with employer-sponsored coverage, and 6 million fewer with individual market coverage. Our Medicaid numbers reflect that states that have expanded their programs under the ACA would see federal funding drop sharply starting in 2020 and that the bill would discourage expansion among states that would otherwise have done so in the future. […]
| State | Total | Medicaid | Employee-Sponsored insurance | Individual Market |
| Louisiana | 343,000 | 170,900 | 40,200 | 132,300 |
[Center for American Progress, 5/25/17]
SOME 1,921,000 LOUISIANANS HAD PREEXISTING CONDITIONS; ROUGHLY HALF THE STATE’S POPULATION UNDER 65
April 2017: Center For American Progress Estimated That There Were 1,921,000 Louisianans With Preexisting Medical Conditions Or 50% Of The Non-Elderly Population Of The State. According to Center for American Progress, “In the wake of Congressional Republicans’ failure to drum up support for their health plan last month, the White House is negotiating to put repeal of the Affordable Care Act, or ACA, back on the table. While the previous proposal would have already driven up health care costs and stripped millions of coverage, the new proposal is rumored to include provisions that would undo protections for the more than 130 million Americans who have a pre-existing health condition. […] To download the table by congressional district, click here.”
| State | Age 0 to 17 with Pre-existing Condition | Age 18 to 24 with Pre-existing Condition | Age 25 to 34 with Pre-existing Condition | Age 35 to 44 with Pre-existing Condition | Age 45 to 54 with Pre-existing Condition | Age 55 to 64 with Pre-existing Condition | Nonelderly with Pre-existing Condition | Percent of Nonelderly with Pre-existing Condition |
| Louisiana | 266,600 | 167,600 | 302,600 | 331,400 | 419,700 | 433,200 | 1,921,000 | 50% |
[Center for American Progress, 4/5/17; 4/5/17]
Published: Dec 6, 2018