Payback Time: Iowans Vow Revenge For AHCA Vote

Despite a deluge of phone calls, emails and in-person meetings from concerned Iowans, Iowa Republican Congressmen Rod Blum, David Young and Steve King all voted in favor of the AHCA healthcare bill. The legislation that repealed many provisions of the ACA passed by just two votes. Had any two of those Iowa members flipped their vote, it would have gone back to the drawing board. Democrat Dave Loebsack was the lone no from the state’s delegation.

Reaction to the vote in Iowa was swift and overwhelmingly negative online and among people who need their healthcare coverage to live. The bill will take away healthcare plans from about 24 million Americans, will bring back many forms of preexisting conditions coverage denial, revive lifetime caps for services, and the bill’s Medicaid cuts will even slash special education programs for children with disabilities.

Blum and Young had been holdouts on the previous incarnation of the Republican healthcare plan, but pushed it over the top this time. Their potential Democratic opponents vowed to make the issue central to their bids to defeat the incumbents.

“Rod Blum has shown Iowans exactly where his priorities are – with drug companies and insurance executives,” Abby Finkenauer, a Democratic candidate in the 1st District said in a statement. “This unconscionable plan hurts regular Iowans. It puts an Age Tax on our seniors and will pull the rug out from under thousands of Iowa families – many with pre-existing conditions – who are one healthcare emergency away from financial ruin.”

“This bill strips protections for pre-existing conditions, makes being a woman a pre-existing condition, strips coverage for mental health care, and strips care for veterans,” said Courtney Rowe, another Democrat running to take on Blum. “Iowans in district 1 deserve better than a bold face liar.”

Young has faced many raucous town hall meetings over the past few months with constituents angered over the bill imploring him to vote against it.

“This afternoon David Young made clear what many Iowans in the Third District already know: He is willing to place the needs of corporations and the wealthiest amongst us ahead of what’s best for his constituents that depend on quality and affordable health care coverage,” said Pete D’Alessandro. “Instead of standing up for the hardworking Iowans who have real healthcare needs, David Young has once again shown an utter disregard for them. The only thing this bill accomplishes is higher premiums for working Iowans and an increase in those without healthcare coverage.”

Kim Weaver, looking to take on King again in 2018, hit the congressman for his glee over the vote, as well as the amount of 4th District residents who will lose their coverage.

That awkward moment when @SteveKingIA expresses joy over millions of Americans losing access to quality, affordable health insurance. #AHCA https://t.co/AugX8mW6Th

— Kim Weaver (@KimWeaverIA) May 4, 2017

Let this sink in.. 307,900 people in Iowa’s 4th District alone. https://t.co/y7WGhGi3xC

— Kim Weaver (@KimWeaverIA) May 4, 2017

National efforts to raise funds to go after Republican incumbents who voted in favor were wildly successful on Thursday. DailyKos pushed an ActBlue fund that brought in over $750,000 – that money will be sent to the eventual Democratic nominees in 24 swing, Republican-held districts. Both Blum and Young are on their list. Another $700,000 flooded into the Swing Left project, which is targeting 35 Republican seats. Blum and Young also make their priority districts.

Iowans will get their chance to tell Blum their feelings on the matter up close and personal next week.

However, Blum will require attendees to his public forums to show their IDs in order to get in, with the intent of excluding anyone who doesn’t live in the district. That led to a multitude of negative press articles covering the restriction, which seemed like an odd choice that brought very little to no benefit to Blum. The town hall schedule:

May 8th – 7PM
Dubuque Senior High School Nora Gym
1800 Clarke Drive, Dubuque
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May 9th – 7PM
Kirkwood Community College Johnson Hall Gym
6301 Kirkwood Boulevard SW, Cedar Rapids
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May 10th – 7PM
Cedar Falls High School Gym
1015 Division Street, Cedar Falls
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May 11th – 12PM
Marshalltown Community College Babe Harder Gym
3700 South Center Street, Marshalltown
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by Pat Rynard
Posted 5/5/17