U.S. Sen. Angus King delivers a speech about the Republican health care proposal on the floor of the U.S. Senate on Wednesday.
Sen. Angus King criticized the proposal to replace the Affordable Care Act during a speech on the Senate floor Wednesday, saying the plan by House Republicans would hurt Maine seniors, give tax breaks to the wealthy at the expense of middle-class Mainers, and end up costing people across the state more money while delivering less.
Maine’s independent senator called on the House of Representatives to instead work to improve the existing law, also known as Obamacare.
“I don’t think there is much question that this proposal will hammer Maine and my people, and I can’t stand for that,” King said.
He cited estimates that, under the replacement proposal, a 60-year-old person in Aroostook County with an income of $30,000 a year would lose about 70 percent of the federal support for his or her health insurance plan.
“The pattern is shift and shaft: shift the cost and shaft the people who need coverage,” King said.
King also has expressed concern about the effects of repeal on hospitals in rural Maine.
House Republicans’ plan to replace the Affordable Care Act was attacked from all sides Tuesday, including criticism by conservative Maine Gov. Paul LePage and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, a moderate Republican.
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