- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

US Dems Urge Trump to 'Stop Sabotage' of Obamacare, Work to Improve Healthcare

© AFP 2023 / RHONA WISEAn Obamacare logo. (File)
An Obamacare logo. (File) - Sputnik International
Subscribe
Democrats in the US Congress urged President Donald Trump on Friday to "stop the sabotage" of the Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as Obamacare, and work across the political aisle to improve healthcare coverage for the Americans.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US Senate early Friday failed to approve a Republican bill that would have repealed parts of Obamacare.

Republican Senators joined Democrats in a 51-49 vote rejecting the legislation.

"I think it's time for the Republicans to put partisanship aside and stop these efforts to repeal. The president needs to stop the sabotage and basically work with us to come together and find ways to lower costs, to bring stability to the marketplace and also expand access," Congressman Frank Pallone said.

US President Donald Trump says something to reporters as he departs for travel to Poland and the upcoming G-20 summit in Germany, from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, US, July 5, 2017. - Sputnik International
Trump Criticizes 'No' Votes in Failed 'Skinny' Obamacare Repeal Effort
House of Representatives Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called on Speaker Paul Ryan to start congressional discussions on amending Obamacare and urged Trump to release the funds needed to keep the program running.

"We call upon the speaker to establish a process. We can go right to the committees and have a discussion on how we keep America healthy. We call upon the president to release the funds, the cost savings reductions that are essential to having the law be effective," Pelosi said.

The funds offset costs for insurers in exchange for them offering more affordable healthcare coverage to low-income Americans.

Congressman James Clyburn said it was now up to the president to enforce the existing healthcare law, since Republicans were unable to repeal it.

Senator John McCain - Sputnik International
McCain Voted No on 'Skinny Repeal' Due to Lack of Actual Reform
"Now it's up to the executive branch of government to enforce that law and not do anything to subvert the legislative process," Clyburn said.

Congressman John Yarmuth said lawmakers need to focus on working with the US states where Obamacare appears to be failing.

"We need to engage these states," Yarmuth said. "In those [states] where it hasn't been as successful, these are where the administrations of those states, largely Republican, have not embraced the Affordable Care Act and have not tried to make it work."

Several Democrats stressed that their party stood ready to work with Republicans on improving Obamacare, rejecting allegations that they themselves were to blame for the failure to repeal it.

"The Republicans hold the White House, Senate and the House, and yet they are finger pointing to us. And here's the reality of it… we stand here with open arms," Congresswoman Cheri Bustos said.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала