By Eric Stock
WASHINGTON – Republicans need to change the minds of several GOP Senators if they hope to pass a revised version of Trumpcare, but they won’t get the support of Illinois’ two Democratic senators.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth said the new bill is even worse for the American people by allowing health insurers to offer plans that are so skimpy, they wouldn’t cover pregnancies and maternal care, mental healthcare or treatments for major illnesses.
“The version of Trumpcare released (Thursday) would still rob tens of millions of their health insurance and jeopardize a program that one in 10 Veterans, two out of three nursing home residents and children with autism, Down syndrome and special needs depend on,” Duckworth said in a news release.
Sen. Dick Durbin said the bill will still force millions of Americans to lose their health insurance, increase costs, and put critical health care services beyond the reach of hard-working American families. He invoked the famous Albert Einstein exclamation: ‘The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.’
“It is past time for Republicans to give up this partisan approach to health care and work with their Democratic colleagues across the aisle – who are willing and waiting – to improve the health care system for all Americans,” Durbin said.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].