A message from the Hancock Country Democrats:
Background: As you know, the Big Ugly Bill deep six’d the subsidies that made Affordable Care Act premiums actually affordable for a lot of folks (like around 22 million of our fellow citizens). After a lot of hemming and hawing, the Congress is finally (apparently) going to take a vote on extending “enhanced ACA premium tax credits” past their expiration date of December 31. A current bipartisan bill, HR 6010, the Fix It Act, (1) proposes a two-year extension of enhanced ACA premium tax credits, paying for it by cracking down on Medicare Advantage fraud and insurance broker misconduct. This would prevent a significant premium increase for millions of Americans, while the bill would also implement new income caps and fraud safeguards. The Coalition on Human Needs- CHN – (2) has sent a request that we pressure our delegation into signing on to this measure or at least vote for it. It’s not a complete answer to the problem, but at least it’s something. Just don’t let the media fool you into thinking it’s the whole answer. We need a complete overhaul of the medical insurance situation (like, single payer health care nationwide…which should be a plank in the Democratic party platform!)
Action: Write a letter in your own words and send to our delegation, or phone them! This is much more effective than sending a “canned” letter. You don’t have to lard your letter with statistics or rationale – they’ve heard all that. Just tell them what youwant them to do! And ask for a reply.
Contact:
Senator Angus King
DC: (202) 224-5344
Augusta: (207) 622-8292
Senator Susan Collins
DC: (202) 224-2523
Augusta: (207) 622-8414
Bangor: (207) 945-0417
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree
DC: (202) 225-6116
Portland: (207) 774-5019
Waterville: (207) 873-5713
Congressman Jared Golden
DC: (202) 225-6306
Bangor: (207) 249-7400
Caribou: (207) 492-6009
Lewiston: (207) 241-6767
Urgency: Per CHN, a vote is expected December 10 or 11. So get right on it please!
Extra Credit:
(1) https://liccardo.house.gov/media/press-releases/bipartisan-bill-protect-affordable-care-act-tax-credits-introduced (why not by a Maine representative???)
For info on the bill, https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/6010/cosponsors?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%22HR+6010%22%7D&s=1&r=1&overview=closed#tabs
