Californians React To Replacement Plan’s Failure
Some were relieved, while other were disappointed. Here's a look at how California residents are responding to news that the American Health Care Act was pulled.
Fresno Bee:
Disappointment And Relief: Valley Reaction To Pulled Federal Health Bill
Central San Joaquin Valley political and community leaders voiced disappointment to cautious relief at the president’s request that the American Health Care Act be pulled from consideration for a vote Friday. Long-time Fresno Republican Michael Der Manouel said Friday “was a feeble attempt” to stop the federal health care system from bankrupting the country. “And it couldn’t be done.” Der Manouel said it’s now “up to the Freedom Caucus to show their plan.” The conservative group of legislators killed the American Health Care Act, he said. (Anderson, 3/24)
Santa Rosa Press Democrat:
Relief And Defiance Voiced On North Coast As GOP Health Bill Dies
The failure by Republicans and President Donald Trump to muster the House votes needed to repeal and replace President Barack Obama’s signature health care law left many North Coast residents on Friday breathing a sigh of relief, celebrating a reprieve for a policy they support and a major political loss for an administration they vocally oppose. The overhaul bill foundered this week amid defections by both moderate and hard-line conservative Republicans, leading Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan to pull the American Health Care Act before a full House vote that lacked the GOP support it needed to pass. (Espinoza, 3/24)
California Healthline:
Californians Speak After GOP’s Obamacare Repeal Attempt Falls Flat
Relief, disappointment, unassuaged worry, political swagger, straightforward determination. From the state Capitol to the halls of academia, and from the interior to the coast, Californians reacted strongly on Friday to the dramatic news that the Affordable Care Act would be around “for the foreseeable future,” as House Speaker Paul Ryan conceded after being forced to withdraw the Republican repeal bill for lack of support within his own party. Here are some of the comments from policymakers, advocates and consumers around the state. (3/27)
Orange County Register:
Orange County Democrats Call On GOP To Help Fix Obamacare
While glad to see Republicans’ proposed health plan withdrawn Friday, Orange County Democrats in Congress acknowledged shortcomings of Obamacare and said they hope to work with Republicans to improve the current system. “The right thing to do is to fix it; for Republicans and Democrats to get together and fix it,” said freshman Rep. Lou Correa, D-Santa Ana. (Wisckol, 3/24)
The Mercury News:
Rep. Lofgren: 'We Need To Be Vigilant'
“What this fight showed is that when the American people speak up, they win,” [Rep. Zoe] Lofgren said at a spirited town-hall meeting with constituents. “We need to be vigilant.” President Donald Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan might have suffered serious blows to their political momentum on their political and policy agendas, but the largely partisan crowd at the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors chambers seemed to feel a sense of hope. (Hansen, 3/25)
Meanwhile —
Los Angeles Times:
Meet Indivisible, The Young Progressives Leading The Resistance To President Trump
The idea started with a public Google document. In the weeks after Donald Trump won last year’s presidential election and Republicans kept control of Congress, Sarah Dohl, along with a handful of friends and former Capitol Hill colleagues, wanted Americans — mostly distraught Democrats — to know their voices could still be heard. Not expecting much, they published online a 26-page document in mid-December, outlining a succinct idea: resist. (Lee, 3/26)