Galindez writes: "On Thursday July 6th, activists sat in 28 Senate offices in 21 states demanding senators vote no on the GOP healthcare plan. Across the country, nearly 50 people were arrested for speaking out against draconian cuts to Medicaid in order to give billions of dollars in tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans."
Protesters in Rob Portman's office. (photo: Cincinnati Socialist Alternative)
09 July 17
n Thursday July 6th, activists sat in 28 Senate offices in 21 states demanding senators vote no on the GOP healthcare plan. Across the country, nearly 50 people were arrested for speaking out against draconian cuts to Medicaid in order to give billions of dollars in tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans, according to Our Revolution.
The protests were led by a coalition of progressive groups including Democracy Spring, Progressive Democrats of America, and Our Revolution, which is affiliated with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Hundreds risked arrest as they converged on targeted GOP strongholds.
In some cities, like in Denver’s protest of Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) and Phoenix’s protest of Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), activists refused to leave and were detained by police. But in Ohio, activists found themselves able to stay overnight in the offices of Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), according to the Washington Post.
On Friday, Senator Portman came out against the current draft of the Republican health care plan in the Senate, leading to an end of the sit-in.
“Trumpcare has never been about health care,” Working Families Party national director Dan Cantor told the Associated Press. “It’s a naked attempt to steal healthcare from millions of Americans in order to pay for massive tax cuts for the richest people in history. It's despicable. Even Republican senators must know in their hearts that this is wrong. But still, they press forward.”
Republicans argue that Barack Obama's signature achievement is not sustainable. Many Democrats agree that some changes are needed to revamp the nation's healthcare system but don't believe repealing the Affordable Care Act is the right prescription.
Senator Mitch McConnell on Thursday admitted that chances were not good that he would be able to get the votes in the Senate to repeal Obamacare so there may need to be a plan B which includes working with the Democrats on much-needed reforms to the current system.
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) welcomed McConnell's comments, saying the Kentucky Republican “opened the door to bipartisan solutions.”
"It’s encouraging that Sen. McConnell today acknowledged that the issues with the exchanges are fixable,” Schumer said. “As we’ve said time and time again, Democrats are eager to work with Republicans to stabilize the markets and improve the law. At the top of the list should be ensuring cost-sharing payments are permanent, which will protect health care for millions.”
The protests were not just against the Senate bill but also were calling for a single-payer health care system. Organizers are gearing up for a national action on July 29th to say Our Lives Are On the Line.
Scott Galindez attended Syracuse University, where he first became politically active. The writings of El Salvador's slain archbishop Oscar Romero and the on-campus South Africa divestment movement converted him from a Reagan supporter to an activist for Peace and Justice. Over the years he has been influenced by the likes of Philip Berrigan, William Thomas, Mitch Snyder, Don White, Lisa Fithian, and Paul Wellstone. Scott met Marc Ash while organizing counterinaugural events after George W. Bush's first stolen election. Scott moved to Des Moines in 2015 to cover the Iowa Caucus.
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