Protestors putting heat on Congressman Murphy over health care changes
A protestor holds up a sign during a March 13 rally at U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy’s district office in Mt. Lebanon.
Mykie Reidy leads the group that protested in front of U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy’s office March 13.
Protestors want to speak to U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy about why he voted in favor of the new Republican-backed American Health Care Act while in committee.
Protestors gathered in front of U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy’s office in Mt. Lebanon March 13 demanding to be heard by their congressman on the GOP health care bill, which would make substantial changes to the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare.
About 50 people braced the cold weather while marching on Washington Road to raise signs in support of Obamacare, to offer medical coverage to more people in what many claim is still a broken system.
“After the election a lot of people realized we’ve been sitting back and expecting other people to pick up the tab,” said Robert Celaschi, a 59-year old Scott Township resident. “Part of the tab is making your voice heard and interacting with your elected representatives. It’s the kind of thing we should have been doing for a lot longer than we actually have. We are doing it now.”
The House Ways and Means Committee voted March 9 to move the Republican-backed American Health Care Act out of its committee, making it more likely a full House vote could come later this month.
Murphy already voted in favor for the new GOP bill in committee, before a Congressional Budget Office report released the same day as the Mt. Lebanon march showed as many as 24 million people might lose health coverage by 2026, leaving some constituents questioning where he stands after consistently speaking on mental health issues.
“Everybody here is motivated by understanding Congressman Murphy, who has run unopposed recently, speak out on two main issues: veteran affairs and mental health,” said Mykie Reidy, one of the lead organizers for Monday’s With Murphy, a local group that began in January to bring issues to light.
“He basically lies low on every other topic and doesn’t invite controversy,” Reidy said. “The constituents of the 18th District are really unaware what he truly stands for. He has voted 100 percent with the Trump agenda since the inauguration. It’s important for his constituents and supporters to know where he stands.”
The new bill would remove subsidies to purchase health coverage in exchange for lower tax credits, eliminate tax penalties that the ACA imposes on for not having health insurance in exchange for a penalty paid to health insurers and phases out the Medicaid expansion. According to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation, Medicare and Medicaid services expanded by more than 11 million newly eligible adults that enrolled through March 2016. It is estimated if the repeal bill is passed, it would make its health coverage unattainable for millions, especially low-income and older Americans.
“I’m self-employed so I don’t get any health care plans from an employer,” Celaschi said. “I have to buy my own. It’s expensive. This year the price went up and the coverage went down. That was with Obamacare. The whole point of insurance is for the people who are doing OK to cover the cost of people who are not. If healthy people don’t buy it, there is not going to be enough money in the system for those who actually need it.”