Vermont Business Magazine The scheduled vote on House Republican leadership’s American Health Care Act was just postponed and will no longer be taking place this evening as previously scheduled. Representative Peter Welch (D-VT) this morning spoke during the House debate on the legislation that would replace the Affordable Care Act. In his remarks, he said the bill would result in the GOP turning its back on the people who did the most to elect them.
Representative Peter Welch Remarks March 23, 2017:
“Mr. Speaker and my friends on the Republican side:
You’ve got the perfect bill. It cuts taxes $800 billion, largely at the high end. It cuts 24 million people off of healthcare. And, it ends the Medicaid entitlement. What’s the problem? Bring your bill up here!
What you have is not a healthcare bill. You have a tax cut bill masquerading as a healthcare bill. And your hesitation is the collateral damage that you’re going to do.
To the people who voted for you, it will become clear.
To the hospitals in rural America we need, that damage will become clear.
The people who supported you, the people who believed in you—they’re the people you are turning your back on.
I say, bring your bill up here. Vote on it. Take ownership of what it is you are doing. I welcome your courage in telling rural America that they don’t matter.”