Washington D.C — Republicans in Congress are holding millions of Americans’ health care hostage as the government funding deadline looms. Under the Republican Tax Law, which also included massive cuts to Medicaid, health care tax credits that have allowed millions of Americans to afford basic health insurance are set to expire – all so billionaires can get another tax break. Now, with the government funding deadline on the horizon and the clock ticking on extending the health care tax credits, Republicans are preparing to vote for a bill that doubles down on their agenda of making things more expensive instead of helping millions of working-class families afford health care.
If Republicans don’t vote to restore these tax credits:
- 4 million people will lose their health insurance
- Monthly health care payments will skyrocket by 75%
- 22 million people, including 5 million small business owners, would face higher health insurance costs
Americans can’t afford any delays. Health insurers have already begun raising their rates in anticipation of the tax credits expiring. If Congress doesn’t act soon, premium increases will become locked in and families will lose their health insurance. Why were Republicans so quick to make tax breaks for billionaires permanent, but are refusing to even negotiate over the urgent need to protect their constituents’ health care?
“If congressional Republicans keep fighting efforts to protect the health care tax credits, they will be voting to kick millions off their health care, raise insurance costs, and force a government shutdown,” said Unrig Our Economy Campaign Director Leor Tal. “Clearly, Republicans in Congress would rather let the government shut down than help millions of people afford their health care – all so they can continue their agenda of massive tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy at everyone else’s expense.”
To learn more about the campaign, visit UnrigOurEconomy.com or contact press@unrigoureconomy.com
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About Unrig Our Economy
Unrig Our Economy is a national campaign to fix the rules of our economy to make it work for working people. We know that when the middle class does well, all of us do well — which is why we’re fighting on behalf of working Americans and holding corporations, their wealthy executives, and the politicians who enable them accountable.