Franken Accuses GOP of Ripping Healthcare Away

Image Screenshot from C-SPAN Video https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4681521/al-franken-roasted-amy-barrett

WASHINGTON – Minnesota Sen. Al Franken accused Senate Republicans of attempting to “rip health care away from million of Americans” in a lengthy Facebook post Monday evening.

In the post and accompanying video, Franken takes strong issue with the Senate’s attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act. This effort, spearheaded by Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), has resulted in a bill which has yet to be scored by the Congressional Budget Office. Franken decided to take a strong stance against it regardless.

“In defiance of the vast majority of Americans, Senate Republicans are trying yet again to rip health care away from millions of Americans,” Franken wrote. “This effort, led by Republican Senators Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy, is quickly gaining steam, and it’s time to raise your voices in response.”

Franken claims that the bill would change Medicaid significantly, scraps consumer protections, and cuts federal funding for state level Medicaid-type programs.

“This bill would be a disaster for Minnesotans and the American people,” Franken wrote.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) for its part has taken a much more cautious approach in the beginning process of its scoring of the bill. A press release from the office stated Monday that even a preliminary analysis of the bill will not be ready until next week. That analysis, done in conjunction with the Joint Committee on Taxation, will mostly focus on the bill’s effect on the budget deficit, especially compared with the House Republicans’ American Health Care Act bill.

Further analysis into the type of issues Franken discusses on social media will not be available for several weeks.

“CBO will provide as much qualitative information as possible about the effects of the legislation,” the CBO wrote in its press release. “However CBO will not be able to provide point estimates of the effects on the deficit, health insurance coverage, or premiums for at least several weeks.

Franken’s office did not respond to Alpha News’ request for comment in time for publication.

Anders Koskinen