While You Were Sleeping...

In one night, the GOP voted to take away these 6 essential health benefits

Republicans showed exactly where they stand.

By Melissa Boteach and Jeremy Slevin

Last night while you were sleeping, the Senate debated and ultimately passed a budget resolution that provides a pathway for Republicans to strip health care coverage away from 30 million Americans without having a single Democratic vote.

As the Senate debated the resolution that provides a blueprint to repeal the Affordable Care Act, both Republicans and Democrats had the opportunity to offer a flurry of rapid-fire amendments in a process known as “vote-a-rama.” While these votes are non-binding, the exercise provides an opportunity for senators to show where their colleagues stand on a number of key issues. And the results are not pretty.Senate Republicans took several votes on symbolic amendments offered by Democrats that showed they are not on your side.

Last night, Republicans voted against amendments that would:

1. Protect people with pre-existing conditions

Republicans blocked an amendment that would have made it harder to take away coverage from Americans with preexisting medical conditions. 52 million people — about 1 in 4 non-elderly Americans — have preexisting conditions. These Americans are more likely to face significant health costs, and before the Affordable Care Act, were often denied coverage entirely. The amendment also would have protected coverage for people disabilities or chronic health conditions, and prevent plans from discriminating based on health. Republicans currently have no alternative plan to insure people with preexisting conditions. Only two Republicans — Maine’s Susan Collins and Nevada’s Dean Heller — voted for the amendment.

2. Let young adults stay on their parents’ plan

Republicans blocked an amendment by Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin that would have made it easier for young people to stay on their parents’ health care plan until they are 26 — one of the most popular and effective provisions of the Affordable Care Act. Over 6 million young adults have gained health insurance since the law was implemented in 2010, and young Americans now report better physical and mental health. The provision is also overwhelmingly popular — 85 percent favor keeping young people on their parents’ insurance plans. Sens. Heller and Collins were the only two senators who bucked their party on this vote.

3. Maintain access to contraceptive coverage

Thanks to Obamacare, birth control is more affordable than ever. Spending on contraceptive health care has gone down by 20 percent since the Affordable Care Act took effect. An amendment by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand sought to continue this momentum. Unsurprisingly, Republicans blocked the provision 49–49. Sens. Collins and Heller both voted with Democrats.

4. Ensure Medicaid expansion stays in place

Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act benefited 11 million low-income Americans in 2015 alone and has created thousands of jobs for direct care workers. An amendment by Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) would have sought to continue Medicaid expansion, but it was blocked by Republicans — 48–50.

5. Protect children on Medicaid or CHIP

Republicans blocked an amendment offered by Senator Brown (D-OH) that would ensure children could keep their health coverage on Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), both of which provide comprehensive health care services for children including key preventive and developmental care.

6. Protect veterans’ health care

Republicans blocked an amendment by Sen. Tester (D-MT) that would have made it harder to restrict veterans’ ability to access VA health care. While Democrats have sought to provide better funding and health care access at the VA, Donald Trump has proposed eliminating the agency altogether through privatization. A poll in 2015 found that almost two-thirds of survey respondents oppose plans to replace VA health care with a voucher system, an idea backed by many Republican lawmakers and presidential candidates.

Republicans say they want to replace Obamacare with something better. But in just one night’s votes, they indicated that they are not willing to take a stand to ensure that people with pre-existing conditions, women, children, veterans, young adults, people with disabilities, and struggling families can continue to access the affordable coverage they need going forward.

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Why does anyone go to work in the middle of the night, if they have a choice about when they normally work during daylight hours? What are they doing while we are sleeping? Whatever their reasons were, when they were slipping around at night, colluding to secretly pass legislation, does NOT inspire confidence among generally, trusting American taxpayers and voters in cities and rural hometowns in America. Why couldn't they conduct business during daylight hours? What were they trying to hide? The many days ahead will reveal all.

After me and the puppies return from our chilly evening walk admiring the twilight, Granny Annie will bake some fresh fudge brownies overrun with the specially packaged chocolate covered walnuts, I add to the mix. When they are done baking in the oven at 350 degrees, I'll serve those hot fudge brownies with a tall cold glass of milk. YUMMY!!!

After I wash the dishes, I'll sneak into bed behind Grandpoppy and curl up next to him, ready to drift off into dreamland. Safely and securely snuggled up behind him in bed, covered with Granny Annie's soft yellow blanket and homemade quilt of many colors. Our puppies spoon next to each other in their own little warm doggie bed made for two, on the floor, beside us. There's a welcome sweet chill in the night air that wafts through the open bedroom window and the ticking of the bedside clock, every night... that drifts slowly away into my mind's oblivion. 

                        Sweet dreams and "Boner Appertite!"