The Fight to Protect Health Care Reform
Republican congressional leaders have launched a sustained attack against the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the landmark health reform law enacted last year. While GOP leaders have attempted to repeal the ACA outright, the real effort is aimed at defunding the law and at dismantling it piece-by-piece. Recently, the House approved a federal spending bill for the current fiscal year that prohibits the administration from spending any funds to implement the law, such as providing tax credits to small employers to help them purchase coverage. House GOP leaders are also drafting bills that would repeal specific provisions in the law. For now, these measures will be met with resistance by the Senate, where Democratic leaders have resisted efforts to weaken the law.
Five different federal district court judges have ruled on the merits of constitutional challenges to the Affordable Care Act’s requirement that individuals have coverage beginning in 2014, or face a tax penalty, except where there is a financial hardship. Three of the judges ruled that the law is constitutional, while two have ruled that it is not. The cases will make their way to the circuit courts and eventually to the U.S. Supreme Court.
- Fact Sheet: House Budget Threat to Medicare
- Fact Sheet: Medicaid In the Balance
- Fact Sheet: Health Insurance Exchanges
- AFSCME Members and Health Reform: What Does It Mean for You?
- For Retirees, Much to Like in Health Care Law
- Retirees and Health Reform: Frequently Asked Questions
- Fact Sheet: Coverage of Preventative Services
- Fact Sheet: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010
- Fact Sheet: Early Retiree Reinsurance Program
- Fact Sheet: Extension of Dependent Coverage to Age 26
Fighting Back
2011 was a pivotal year for the working middle class. It started with the scapegoating of public service workers for the country's economic woes, and continued with unprecedented attacks on...
The Struggle Continues...
America's working class is part of the solution. We're fed up with attacks from politicians backed by Wall Street bankers. We won't let them take our rights. We wont let...
Health Reform: A Great Victory for Working Families
AFSCME Pres. Gerald W. McEntee talks about the importance of health insurance reform legislation passed earlier this year.
Make America Happen Campaign for Health Care Reform
AFSCME's Make America Happen campaign for health care reform.
- Apr 11 Broccoli and Bad Faith
- Jun 15 LEAKED: Secret Report on Jindal's Privatization Plan Louisiana effort to privatize health insurance would increase premiums according to confidential report. (Talking Points Memo)
- May 13 Medicare Trust Fund Boosted By Health Care Reform: Report The Medicare trust fund will last eight years longer than it would have without the... (Huffington Post)
- May 07 Honor Nurses by Supporting Nurse-Patient Staffing Bill National Nurses Week is a time to honor nurses by helping them. (Blog)
- Apr 13 Romney’s Clearer Path Thrusts Ryan Budget in the Spotlight Republican budget plan attacks working families, slashes benefits, and ends Medicaid coverage for millions. (Blog)
- Mar 30 Five Myths about the Ryan Budget The top myths about Rep. Paul Ryan's budget plan in 140 characters or less. (Blog)
- Mar 26 Supreme Court Justices Urged to ‘Protect the Law!’ Supporters of the Affordable Care Act speak out as three days of hearings begin. (Blog)
- Mar 23 Stand Up for the Affordable Care Act Supporters are organizing picket lines on Monday in front of the Supreme Court. (Blog)
- Nov 21 Toomey Super Committee Plan Would Raise Taxes on Working Families to Protect Wall Street Dangerous proposal would endanger health coverage for working Americans while reducing taxes on the wealthiest.... (Blog)
- Aug 05 House GOP’s Cantor Says Medicare & Medicaid Promises May Not Be Kept As programs turn 46, Rep. Cantor threatens to hang millions of Americans out to dry.... (Blog)
- Jul 22 Shared Sacrifice? Not in the ‘Gang of Six’ Plan Ad tells it straight about the shortcomings of the “Gang of Six” deficit plan. (Blog)
- May 27 Rep. Ryan Wants to Push Retirees Back into the “Donut Hole” Budget proposal would repeal Affordable Care Act provisions providing relief from high prescription drug costs.... (Blog)
- May 20 Women at Greater Risk if Health Care Reform Isn't Implemented Changes required by the Affordable Care Act will ease health care cost burden on women.... (Blog)
- May 03 AFSCME Nurses in DC this Week to Fight for Medicaid, Medicare National Nurses Congress attendees will attend workshops, hear speakers and meet with members of Congress.... (Blog)
- Apr 07 Florida Legislature Pulls Plug on Privatization of Northeast Florida State Hospital One of the many dangerous proposals in Gov. Rick Scott's budget is now off the... (Blog)
- Apr 27AFSCME’s McEntee: Legislation Pits Women & Children’s Health Against Student LoansStatement of AFSCME Pres. Gerald W. McEntee in response to the passage of H.R. 4628, a bill capping student loan rates by siphoning funds from health prevention
- Feb 10AFSCME Applauds President Obama’s Contraception PolicyStatement of AFSCME Pres. Gerald W. McEntee regarding President Obama’s contraception policy
- Jan 17AFSCME Letter to House Opposing H.R. 1173The misnamed Fiscal Responsibility and Retirement Security Act would repeal the CLASS program.
