Charlie Baker Is Taking a Strong Stance on Healthcare

Photo via Governor’s Office/Alastair Pike

A bipartisan group of governors—including our own Charlie Baker—is speaking out against the “flawed” healthcare bill making its way through the Senate.

In a letter sent to Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell and Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer Wednesday, 10 governors urged senators to step away from the American Health Care Act (AHCA)—the repeal and replace bill passed by the House in May—and resist amending it to a so-called “skinny repeal” of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

An all-out repeal of the ACA was voted down on Wednesday; a skinny repeal, by contrast, would not fully abolish the healthcare law, but would likely scrap key facets like the individual insurance mandate, and the mandate that compels large companies to provide insurance to employees.

“We urge you to set aside this flawed bill [the AHCA] and work with governors, both Democrats and Republicans, on solutions that will make health care more available and affordable to every American,” the letter reads. “True, lasting reforms can only be achieved in an open, bipartisan fashion.”

Republican governors from Nevada, Maryland, Ohio, and Vermont joined Baker in signing the bill. Democratic governors from Colorado, Montana, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, and Virginia also signed.

The letter also objects to Medicaid cuts included in the AHCA, and says a skinny repeal would “accelerate health plans leaving the individual market, increase premiums, and result in fewer Americans having access to coverage.”

The only way to find a healthcare solution, the group writes, is to foster bipartisan, open conversation between governors and senators.

Good luck with that.

BREAKING: Bipartisan group of 10 Governors slams "skinny" repeal, agrees with McCain that the Senate should return to regular order. pic.twitter.com/YGE0Jm0YMB

— Topher Spiro (@TopherSpiro) July 27, 2017