ICYMI: PA DEMS KICK OFF “HEALTH CARE IS ON THE BALLOT” TOUR, TOUT SUPPORT FOR JOE BIDEN AHEAD OF TRUMP JOHNSTOWN VISIT

As President Trump visited Johnstown, elected and local leaders blasted the Trump administration’s attempts to rip away health care from Pennsylvania families. Check out some coverage below: 

Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chair Nancy Patton Mills penned an op-ed in the Tribune-Democrat: 

Tribune-Democrat: “If the ACA is dismantled, insurance companies will be able to deny coverage or charge huge rates to Pennsylvanians with pre-existing conditions, locking them out of affordable care. That would have an immediate, drastic impact on the over 5.3 million Pennsylvanians with pre-existing conditions who rely on the law for critical protections. Have asthma, or diabetes? Expect your rates to soar. Beat cancer? Next time you may have to beat it without being able to afford insurance. Are you one of the roughly 170,000 Pennsylvanians who survived COVID-19? Insurance companies are licking their chops at the rates they’ll be able to charge you if the ACA is repealed.” 

Vice President Biden issued a forceful statement on President Trump’s failed COVID-19 response and attacks on the Affordable Care Act: 

WTAJ: “Over the last four years, President Trump has only looked out for big corporations and the super-wealthy like those on Park Avenue, and has failed to protect Pennsylvanians from the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, Cambria County’s unemployment rate has risen to double-digits, and Pennsylvania is seeing its highest number of COVID-19 cases in six months. But instead of having a plan to help communities like Johnstown recover and rebuild, President Trump is trying to strip away health care protections from the 5 million Pennsylvanians living with pre-existing conditions.”

And key Democratic leaders held a virtual press conference to discuss the president’s record of broken promises on health care:

Daily American: “The Pennsylvania Democratic Party and Biden For President Pennsylvania kicked off their joint “Health Care is on the Ballot Tour” with a discussion on what the groups believe is at stake in the upcoming election. The Affordable Care Act was the topic of the virtual media conference that was held about seven hours before President Donald Trump flew in to the John Murtha Johnstown–Cambria County Airport for a rally. The prime focus was the 2010 act’s provision of a guarantee of coverage for anyone with a pre-existing condition…Trump has made it clear that he wants the act dismantled and replaced by his own plan. But he has not provided details. There is an upcoming case to go before the Supreme Court in November that could overturn the law, Casey said.”

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: “Before Mr. Trump’s rally, Pennsylvania Democrats sought to shift the conversation to health care, warning in a call with reporters that Mr. Trump and Republicans are trying to strike down the Affordable Care Act and take coverage away from hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians in the middle of a pandemic, as well as take away the protections for those with pre-existing conditions… Mr. Casey said it’d be nice if the president explained to the people of Cambria County “how he’s going to preserve the health care they have. “He hasn’t explained that yet,” Mr. Casey said. “He has no plan.””

Philadelphia Inquirer: “Ahead of Trump’s visit, Pennsylvania Democrats accused Trump of rushing his Supreme Court nomination so that Barrett, a conservative, would be on the bench by the time the court hears arguments next month on a lawsuit that seeks to invalidate the Affordable Care Act. Democrats, citing Barrett’s past statements, warn that she would vote to strike down the health-care law known as Obamacare. U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D., Pa.) said that “it would be nice” if Trump “would explain to the people of Johnstown and Cambria County” how he’s going to preserve their health care and protect those with preexisting conditions.”

Tribune-Democrat: “Earlier in the day, Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairwoman Nancy Patton Mills and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, a Democrat, held a virtual press conference, offering their support for Biden. Casey said, in his opinion, Trump, a Republican, has no plans for health care or job creation, especially with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. “He’s had four years and there’s still no health care plan that will protect people with pre-existing conditions,” Casey said.” 

WTAJ-TV [TV Clip]: “Ahead of President Trump’s visit, Democrats of Pennsylvania gathered for a virtual roundtable to talk about the future of health care in the state. Senator Bob Casey even blasting the President’s plans. “It’d be nice if he told us, and told the people of Cambria County, how he’s going to protect their health care in detail, and how he’s going to build back better with a detailed plan for jobs, and how he’s going to tackle this virus,” [Casey said.]

WHP-TV [TV Clip]: The PA Dems responding to President Trump’s rally in Johnstown tonight. They kicked off their virtual ‘Health Care is on the Ballot’ tour this morning. Senator Bob Casey is calling on the president for answers. “I think it would be nice if the president, as a candidate, but maybe especially as a president, would explain to the people of Johnstown and Cambria County how he’s going to prevent them from losing coverage, he hasn’t explained that yet, he has no plan.” Senator Casey also asked the president if he will protect people in Cambria County with pre-existing conditions.”

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