PENNSYLVANIA — Ahead of the first presidential debate today, PA Dems Vice Chair Sen. Sharif Street, Congresswoman Susan Wild (PA-7), Rep. Mike Schlossberg (D-Lehigh), type 1 diabetic Mitch Lenett (Bethlehem), and former Medicaid recipient Cindy Jennings (Lititz) hosted a virtual press conference to contrast the Trump administration’s ongoing attacks on the Affordable Care Act with Vice President Biden and Pennsylvania Democrats’ plans to strengthen and expand access to quality, affordable health care.
A recording of the virtual press conference can be found here, and an audio clip is available here. Check out some of the highlights below:
Sen. Sharif Street, Pennsylvania Democratic Party Vice-Chair:
“We sit some 30 days from Election Day, Donald Trump is still denying that COVID is real while over 200,000 Americans have died. Over 7 million have been infected and [he’s] still pretending it’s going to go away…. The presidency is a serious job. We have joblessness…and the President likes to talk about unemployment — but that only captures people who’ve lost their jobs in the last six months. We’ve had a ton of people lose their jobs more than six months ago and not get them back…. Joe Biden is a guy who is ready to lead from day one… Joe Biden is an honest guy who understands ordinary working Pennsylvanains. Tonight, we’re going to see how Joe Biden shows that he is prepared to lead.”
Congresswoman Susan Wild (PA-7), U.S. House of Representatives:
“When my constituents gather around their kitchen tables, they are not talking about party or ideology. They are talking about how they’re going to afford their premiums this month. They’re worried about the same unsustainable health care costs, gaps in coverage and skyrocketing prices of prescription drugs — that’s what they’re talking about. And they deserve a president and an administration that works for them…With Vice President Biden’s leadership, I believe we can build on the successes of the Affordable Care Act, we can fix the problems with it, we can fix the loopholes. And we can lower premiums and expand coverage. I think it’s time that we stop allowing the basic right to health care to be used as a political bargaining chip.”
Rep. Mike Schlossberg (D-Lehigh), PA House of Representatives:
“Just like almost every issue that we face during this covid epidemic, mental illness is getting worse… Now, why am I mentioning this in particular in the context of a conversation about Obamacare, about Medicaid expansion, and about pre existing conditions? Because depression, anxiety, and mental illness is a pre-existing condition. With Donald Trump and what his Supreme Court nominee would almost certainly do is make it so that people with mental health disorders cannot get the care that they need. This is devastating for my constituents. But this is devastating for people around the country who could wind up losing access to insurance.”
Mitch Lenett (Bethlehem), Diabetic & Team Carly Rocks Foundation Founder:
“It’s just so frustrating to have to hear [Trump’s and Republicans’] lies and the shiny objects and the distractions. After four years, there’s no plan [for ACA replacement], folks, there is no plan. And that is super, super frustrating. And a President Biden has a plan…. And what it really comes down to is really simple — right and wrong… And leaving over 130 million people with pre existing conditions to fend for themselves is just wrong. It’s just wrong….This is one that could be absolutely devastating for people like myself, like my daughter, like, like anyone. And we really need to be smart about this — 35 days is right around the corner.”
CIndy Jennings (Lititz), Relied on Medicaid Expansion for health care access:
“I was extremely relieved when our governor, Governor Wolf, expanded Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act. I was able to get insurance through that and it was such a relief for me. It was one less thing to worry about. I could take my medications, I could go for routine checkups. And I was due for a colonoscopy. I remember the doctor holding my hand and looking me in the eyes saying it is so good you came in when you did because there were cancerous polyps they were able to remove. Without that health care, I wouldn’t have gone and then who would take care of my sons?”
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