By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Minutes after news broke Thursday that the vote on a new health plan for the nation had been put on hold, local residents were celebrating the seventh birthday of the Affordable Care Act.
Wearing birthday hats, holding balloons and blowing noise makers, the citizens presented birthday cards and decorated cupcakes to staff at U.S. Rep. Bob Latta’s office in Bowling Green.
Others stood along North Main Street, bearing signs like the one stating, “Trump Care Doesn’t Care….it’s tax credits for the rich.” As cars drove, they sang “Happy Birthday,” with some following the last stanza with an optimistic “and many more.”
One of the birthday party organizers, Sean Elliott of Bowling Green, said he was “relieved” that the Republican health care bill failed to advance on Thursday, though he realized the delay was likely to be brief. “It seems really unacceptable,” considering the millions of people it would leave uninsured.
For Elloitt, it’s not just a matter of public policy. It’s personal.
“It’s not just a statistic,” he said. Elliott’s 4-year-old son, Jacoby, has a rare chromosome disorder that has delayed his motor skills. He is unable to walk or to talk.
The Affordable Care Act has helped with Jacoby’s medical bills – but the replacement bill could halt that coverage. “To see that program gutted would be devastating,” Elliott said.
Citizens meet with Andy Lorenz in Latta’s office in Bowling Green.
Inside Latta’s office, citizens asked Andy Lorenz, the representative’s district director, where Latta stands on the Republican health care bill. Lorenz said his boss supported the bill when it came out of committee, but he wasn’t sure of his stance since so many changes had been made to the legislation.
“He’s currently reviewing it,” Lorenz told the citizens.
The citizens crammed into Latta’s office were not happy with all the expected changes to their health care coverage – and they weren’t shy about sharing their feelings.
“If you take away the Affordable Care Act, you’re just going to be making America sicker again,” one said.
“You’re supposed to be replacing it with something better,” another said.
“I feel like Republicans have abandoned the American people,” said another.
Outside Latta’s office, Nancy Myerholtz and Rori Mason, of Waterville, put on their party hats.
“I’m here to support staying with the Affordable Care Act – working with what we have,” Mason said.
“It’s not perfect, no one ever said that it was,” Myerholtz said.
Another one of the birthday party organizers, Meghan Wilson of Bowling Green, arrived shortly after hearing that the vote had been postponed on the health care bill.
“I just heard the news,” Wilson said. “I feel like any delay means there is more chance they will come up with a more common sense plan. I don’t think the current plan is going to fix our problems.”
Citizens support Affordable Care Act outside Latta’s office.
Jennifer Harvey, holding a birthday poster, said she found it “terrifying” that Congress was preparing to vote on a health care bill that would leave so many people behind.
“I want to have our Congress modify the Affordable Care Act so it works for all Americans,” Harvey said.
Some worried what Congress was giving away in the effort to woo the most conservative Freedom Caucus members.
“It will result in deaths,” Harvey said, adding that the bill may have to undergo more cuts before it goes up for a vote. “It’s frustrating that it’s because the conservatives who want to really gut it are opposed to it.”
Melanie Stretchbery, of Bowling Green, agrees that every day the vote is delayed is another day when reason may prevail. But she is troubled that so much of Washington was ready to proceed without any true analysis of the bill or its amendments.
“I think it’s reprehensible,” she said.
Stretchbery has hope that moderates will carry some weight in the process.
“I think the more moderate Republicans share the same concerns we do about Medicaid expansion,” Stretchbery said. Other items like mental health and maternity services are also at risk. “I’m surprised and very pleased they stood up and said, ‘No, we’re not pushing it through.’”
