If You Don't Want Obamacare to Be Repealed, Call These Senators
Before the week is out, Republicans in the Senate want to make one more push to repeal the Affordable Care Act (otherwise known as Obamacare).
When we last checked in with Senate Republicans in July, their “skinny repeal” health care bill had failed to reach the required 51-vote threshold it needed to pass. Thanks to millions of phone calls, emails, letters, and demonstrations from activists across the country and the “no” votes of Senators Susan Collins (R–Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R–Alaska), and John McCain (R–Ariz.), it seemed possible that the ACA would remain in place for good.
As it turns out, this was not the final word on the ACA. Earlier this month South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham and Louisiana’s Bill Cassidy brought forward their eponymous Graham-Cassidy bill as a last-ditch effort to overturn Obamacare. As is the case with this bill and the previous efforts, the measure would be voted on as part of the budget reconciliation process, which requires a simple majority to pass—but which comes with a September 30 deadline.
While the Senate GOP scrambles to secure votes for the bill, policy experts have made clear that Graham-Cassidy is the most extreme health care legislation to be introduced so far. States would have the ability to completely undercut protections put in place by former President Obama’s signature legislation. This means coverage for essential health benefits—like maternity care and mental health treatment—and protections for people with preexisting conditions could soon be a thing of the past. And as Vox explained, the bill would allow states to split their insurance markets, meaning companies could sell different plans at different prices to people based on how sick or healthy they are.
Beyond this, the ACA’s birth control mandate could be dropped and Medicaid recipients would not be allowed to visit Planned Parenthood for preventive services (this, of course, stems from the GOP’s repeated efforts to “defund” Planned Parenthood by cutting off Medicaid funding to the health care provider). And for women who wanted to terminate an unintended pregnancy, Graham-Cassidy includes provisions that make abortion coverage more inaccessible for women both on the individual market and who get insurance through her employer.
Not surprisingly, the 48 Democrats in the Senate are all but guaranteed to vote against the bill. And though some prominent Republicans have voiced opposition to the bill—including McCain, who said last week that he won’t vote for the bill, and Collins, who isn’t a definite “no” yet but seems to be leaning that way—the GOP is trying to make Graham-Cassidy a reality. Considering how civic activism put a stop to the last attempt to repeal Obamacare, phone calls, letters, and emails will be just as important this time around. To make that clear, the Center for American Progress compiled a list of Republican senators who could determine Graham-Cassidy’s fate—and included their direct lines.
Sen. Susan Collins, Maine: (202) 224-2523 (D.C.): (207) 780-3575 (Portland)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Alaska: (202) 224-6665 (D.C.); (907) 271-3735 (Anchorage)
Sen. John McCain, Arizona: (202) 224-2235 (D.C.); (602) 952-2410 (Phoenix)
Sen. Jeff Flake, Arizona: (202) 224-4521 (D.C.); (602) 840-1891 (Phoenix)
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, West Virginia: (202) 224-6472 (D.C.); (304) 347-5372 (Charleston)
Sen. Rob Portman, Ohio: (202) 224-3353 (D.C.); (614) 469-6774 (Columbus)
Sen. Lamar Alexander, Tennessee: (202) 224-4944 (D.C.); (615) 736-5129 (Nashville)
Sen. Joni Ernst, Iowa: (202) 224-3254 (D.C.); (515) 284-4574 (Des Moines)
Sen. Mike Rounds, South Dakota: (202) 224-5842 (D.C.); (605) 224-1450 (Pierre)
Sen. Jerry Moran, Kansas: (202) 224-6521 (D.C.); (316) 631-1410 (Wichita)
Sen. Tom Cotton, Arkansas: (202) 224-2353 (D.C.); (501) 223-9081 (Little Rock)
Sen. Thom Tillis, North Carolina: (202) 224-6342 (D.C.); (704) 509-9087 (Charlotte)
Sen. John Kennedy, Louisiana: (202) 224-4623; (337) 269-5980 (Lafayette)
Sen. John Hoeven, North Dakota: (202) 224-2551 (D.C.); (701) 250-4618 (Bismarck)
Sen. Ron Johnson, Wisconsin: (202) 224-5323 (D.C.); (414) 276-7282 (Milwaukee)
Sen. Dean Heller, Nevada: (202) 224-6244 (D.C.); (702) 388-6605 (Las Vegas)
Sen. Cory Gardner, Colorado: (202) 224-5941 (D.C.); (303) 391-5777 (Denver)
Now, it’s important to note that unless your one of these senator’s constituents, your call won’t be treated as relevant. But if you are a resident of one of these states and you want to save the ACA—or know someone who fits that description—pick up the phone and get dialing.